Gnuplot in Action, Second Edition

Appendix F. Higher math

This appendix discusses several topics that are mathematically a bit more advanced than the rest of the book. We’ll explore gnuplot’s support for parametrized curves and non-Cartesian coordinates (such as polar, cylindrical, and spherical coordinates). In section 6.3.5, you learned about the with vectors style; here, we’ll demonstrate some additional uses for it. Gnuplot has built-in support for complex numbers, which we haven’t mentioned so far—we’ll remedy this now. Next I’ll show you how to create probability plots with gnuplot; and finally, there’s a lengthy section on fitting nonlinear functions to data.

Because this isn’t a math book but a book on gnuplot, I won’t provide much of the background for these concepts; ...