Question

Describe Graphing Linear Equations

Answer 1

The graph of a linear equation in two variables is a line (that's why they call it linear ).

If you know an equation is linear, you can graph it by finding any two solutions

$\left(x_1,y_1\right)$ and $\left(x_2,y_2\right)$

plotting these two points, and drawing the line connecting them.

For example, equation $x+2y=7$

find two solutions, corresponding to the $x$ -intercepts and $y$ -intercepts of the graph, by setting first $x=0$ and then $y=0$

When $x=0$ we get:

$\begin{array}{l}0+2y=7\\ y=3.5\end{array}$

When $y=0$ we get:

$\begin{array}{l}x+2\left(0\right)=7\\ x=7\end{array}$

So the two points are $\left(0,3.5\right)$ and $\left(7,0\right)$

Plot these two points and draw the line connecting them.