GRAPHING LINEAR EQUATIONS IN ONE VARIABLE

GOAL: To understand and graph linear equations of one variable


Study the following points:

(4,-2) , (4,-1) , (4,0) , (4,1) , (4,2) , (4,3)

The y-coordinates here vary while the x-coordinates are always 4.

The equation that represents this relationship between x and y is x=4.

In the coordinate plane, the graph of x=4 is the vertical line that crosses the x-axis at 4 because all the points of this line, and no other points, have x-coordinate 4.


Similarly, we can graph horizontal lines:

Study the following points:

(-2,1) , (-1,1) , (0,1) , (1,1) , (2,1) , (3,1)

The x-coordinates here vary while the y-coordinates are always 1.

The equation that represents this relationship between x and y is y=1.

In the coordinate plane, the graph of y=1 is the horizontal line that crosses the y-axis at 1 because all the points of this line, and no other points, have y-coordinate 1.

 


Equations of Horizontal and Vertical Lines

1. In the coordinate plane, the graph of x=a is a vertical line where a is any real number.

2. In the coordinate plane, the graph of y=b is a horizontal line where b is any real number.


Vertical Line (x=a)

x-coordinate must be a.

y-coordinate can have any value.


Horizontal Line (y=b)

x-coordinate can have any value.

y-coordinate must be b.


The point of intersection of a horizontal line and a vertical line must have an x-coordinate of a, and a y-coordinate of b.

Intersection Point: (a,b)


Show the graphs of x=5 and y=7 on the same axis. Find the point of intersection.

SOLUTION


X-axis is the line y=0. (The horizontal line with y-coordinate 0)

Y-axis is the line x=0. (The vertical line with x-coordinate 0)

The intersection point of the X-axis and Y-axis is the origin, the point with coordinates (0,0)


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