OK, so far I've only been able to give Excel a series of points to slap onto a scatter plot. If I wanted it to graph, say, y=x^2, could I do it?

I've tried making a domain, x, and a range, x^2, but this gets rejected, and I can't do anything until I change the values to something Excel understands. I guess I could just use a graphing calculator, but then the graph becomes less aesthetically pleasing, and I have to paint the names of the axes on the stupid thing.

I really do hope the solution is a lot simpler than typing out a thousand different points so that my graph can be accurate as well as decent-looking.

**I'm frustrated, so this is my ranting space:
They say programs are only as smart as their programmers--if Microsoft doesn't understand functions, why the !@#$ does anybody need an education?!

What do you expect, create a series of data points for whole number inputs over the domain you wish.

TI Derive is usually at the Library lab,

Get a student copy of:
maple or mathematica

Let's say you want to graph x^2, for x= - 5 to 5:

put your headings in row 1:
in A1: "x" (without the quotations marks)
in B1: "y"

put your x's in column A:
in A2: -5
in A3: -4
then select A2 and A3 together, grab the little black square at the bottom right corner, and drag down as far as you want to fill the rest of the numbers.

put your y's in column B:
in B2: =A2 ^2
then select cell B2, and again, drag it down as far as you want to fill in the rest of the y's

now graph it:
- select your data (let's say it's A1 to B12)
- Insert - Chart
- pick XY (Scatter)

I hope this helps, but if you need more info, edit your question to add more details, or e-mail me through my profile.

Best of luck.
_____
EDIT:
If your equation is more complicated, say it's y=5x^2 - 13x + 11:

The formula in B2, before you edit-copy, or drag it, down, would be:

=5*A2^2 - 13*A2 + 11
.

I don't think its possible on Microsoft Word. Try wrighting it out the formula isn't too long.