Plotting parabolas and curves on MATLAB

I want to graph the parabola r(t) = ti + t^2j for −2 ≤ t ≤ 2 and the curve r(t) = ti + t^2/2j + t^3/3k for −2 ≤ t ≤ 2.

I've never done MATLAB before and am very confused as to how to get this done.

Answer 1

[dpb]

Consider i, j, k as x, y, z and then look at

doc meshgrid doc ndgrid

with new eyes.

For starters

>>  t=meshgrid(-2:2,-2:2)
t =
  -2    -1     0     1     2
  -2    -1     0     1     2
  -2    -1     0     1     2
  -2    -1     0     1     2
  -2    -1     0     1     2
>> r1=t+t.^2;
>> surf(-2:2,-2:2,r1)