How can I graph multiple x functions to the same y function without repeating the y function each time?

I am trying to plot multiple x functions to the same y step. I am creating a graph to model fireworks, and so I want each of my firework particles (modeled as a polynomial projectile motion equation with slight changes to initial velocity each time) to plot to the same y function, without having to type plot(y function, x1 function, y function, x2 function, y function, x3 function, etc.). Is there any simpler way to just plot each x function to that same y function? I use the following function, with my two inputs being the coefficient of the x^2 term, and then a step size.

function [output] = firework_2(input, time_step)

output = (-1*input * (time_step.^2)) + 70

Then, I plot this function vs time_step in my main code, as follows:

time_step = -2:.1:2
figure(3)
plot(time_step, firework_2(2, -2:.1:2))
axis([-20, 20, 0, 90])

I want to be able to plot many different forms of firework_2, to the same time_step, without having to repeat time step each time. As of right now, my code would have to look like this:

plot(time_step, firework_2(2, -2:.1:2), time_step, firework_2(4, -2:.1:2), time_step, firework_2(6, -2:.1:2))

Which is going to take up a lot of time and a lot of space. Is there any way to make each of these firework_2 functions plot to time_step, without rewriting time_step each time?

[Ran Yang]

You should include your code so we can see what you're doing.

In general, if you're doing something over and over again, you should be writing a for loop. The pseudocode would look something like this:

xfuns = cell(N, 1); % allocate array for N projectiles
for i = 1:N
    xfuns{i, 1} = trajectory * rand(i); % your trajectory * some random change each time
end

figure
hold on
% sequentially plot each trajectory
for i = 1:N
    plot(xfuns(i), y)
end

[Jack]

Okay I just added my code to the question, which hopefully clears up what I'm asking.

Answer 1

[Gokul Nath S J]

Hi Ran Yang,

Based on my understanding, it seems that you want to plot multiple firework particle function on a same plot without calling the plot function specifically. You can simulate such instances with the help of vectors or by using a matrix. You an simply make a matrix out of the different x functions and then plot it against a y-function.

For example if you have three x-functions with each of them having 91 data points and a y-function having just 91 point vector, you can easily concatenate the five x-functions(dimension : 91 x 3) into a matrix and then plot it against the y-function (91 x 1).

y = (1:0.1:10).';
x1 = sin(y)
x2 = sin(2*y)
x = [x1, x2];
plot(x, y)

Further the if you have multiple x functions say x1, x2, x3.. xm, use a for loop to create the x matrix.

with regards,

Gokul Nath S J