Maple is a powerful technical computing program available on the Hope network.  It is available through All Programs > Mathematics > Classic Maple Worksheet 10.  A blank window will load and then a window titled Introduction will load.  You can delete the Introduction window and work in the blank one.  In this blank window, a cursor, >, will be present.  This is where you will type in a command that includes the function (or points) you want to plot as well as a viewing window you want it plotted..

In making your own plot, pay close attention to the symbols used in the examples.  Maple is quite particular about the symbols used.  Two things that may seem counter-intuitive that need to be done.  If you want to graph y = 2x + 7, the function you need to insert the function 2*x + 7.  Note that the y is not included in the function and that you need to put a * to indicate multiplication between 2 and x.  Instead of writing the Maple commands from scratch, it is often easier to copy a command and then edit it.

After you plot a function, you can click on the graph, copy it, and then paste it into a Word document.  Below there are three types of plots.  The first is simply a graph of one function, the second is a graph containing two functions, and the third is a scatterplot.

> plot(0.5*x^3+4*x,x=-10..10,y=-100..100);