Getting Started: Desmos 3D

Welcome! The Desmos 3D Graphing Calculator allows you to jump into a new dimension of math. The 3D Calculator is built on the 2D Graphing Calculator, allowing you to bring your familiarity with the Cartesian plane into a three dimensional space.

Watch the video for an introduction, and read on to learn more. For a more comprehensive resource, check out the 3D Calculator User Guide.

When you visit the 3D Calculator, you'll find a place to write expressions on the left and the 3D cube on the right. The \(x\)-, \(y\)-, and \(z\)-axes sit inside the 3D cube. By default, the 3D cube is rotated slightly so you can see two of its sides, and the \(xy\)-plane is tilted to face you. Try graphing a point like \((0,1,2)\) or a plane like \(z=3\).

Click and drag to rotate the cube. If you click, drag, and then release the cube while your cursor is still in motion, the graph will continue to rotate. To stop the rotation, click anywhere on the screen.

Similar to the 2D Graphing Calculator, you can click Add Item to add new items to the expression list, click Show Keypad , and open Graph Settings .

The 3D Calculator allows you to extend your intuition from 2D to 3D. Starting with a 2D equation, you can check Extend to 3D to watch your curve animate into a 3D surface.

You can view anything graphed in 3D on the 2D plane by pressing XY Orientation . Press Default Orientation to return to the original view of the 3D cube.

Read more about extending from 2D to 3D.

You can also use the calculator to investigate the intersection of surfaces. One way is by restricting the domain of a surface. For example, restricting \(x^2+y^2\) to the domain \(\{z=3\}\) will graph the slice of the surface where \(\{z=3\}\).

Another way to visualize this intersection is to open Graph Settings and then check Translucent Surfaces. You’ll be able to see through the surfaces of the graph of \(x^2+y^2\) and the plane \(z=3\) to visualize how the two intersect.