Graphing linear equations in two variables
Graph linear equations by plotting points
Any linear equation in two variables, x and y is called linear equation in two variables and its graph is drawn on a two dimensional plane. If linear equation is not in explicit form then we convert it by isolating y, step by step.
Steps to draw graph of linear equation:
1. Isolate y, if the equation is not given in explicit form.
The equation where y is written all by itself i.e y=mx+b, is called explicit form of equation, whereas Ax+By+c=0 is called implicit form of linear function.
2. Make a table with two rows, first row labeled as x and other row labeled as y.
3. Select some random values of x.These values should be selected in such a way that we don’t get very large values of y. We should get y values without much effort and should be free of fractions.Keeping that in mind using one value as x=0 always help.
4. Plugin those x values into the given equation in explicit form and solve for y.
5.Write these x and y values as points in ordered form. Three points are good enough to get a beautiful graph .
6. Plot these points on a suitable grid and join the points by a line. If all points doesn’t lie on same line then check the work for that point there may be some mistake.
Lets work on some examples to understand the process.
Example1: Graph the equation y=-2x+3 by plotting points.
Solution: Since this equation is already in explicit form so we start getting table of x,y values. lets use x=0,1,2 as random x values. You can also use -1,0,1 . Plugin those x values into the given equation and get y values.
For x=0, y=-2(0)+3 = 3 (0,3)
For x=1, y=-2(1)+3 =1 (1,1)
For x=2, y=-2(2)+3=-1 (2,-1)
Now plot all these points on a grid and join these points to get following line graph.
Example2: Graph the equation 2x+3y+4=0 by plotting points.
Solution: First we get this equation in explicit form. For that we get y by itself step by step.
3y=-2x-4
Next we get a table of x,y values in order to get the points. We should select such x values which doesn’t result in fractional y values. Initially you will find some difficulty in finding such values but after some practice you would be able to do all that math in your mind.
For x=-2, y= -2(-2)/3 – 4/3 = 4/3 -4/3 =0 (-2,0)
For x=1, y= -2/3 -4/3 = -6/3 = -2 (1,-2)
For x=4, y=-2(4)/3 -4/3 = -8/3 – 4/3=-12/3=-4 (4,-4)
Plotting all these three points on a grid and joining them we get following graph.
Graph Linear equations by finding Intercepts
Graph of a linear equation can be drawn using x and y intercepts instead of plotting random points.
X intercept : This is the point where graph intersect the x axis. To get x intercept , always plugin y=0 and solve for x. X intercept is written in the form (x,0)
Y intercept: This is the point where graph intersect the y axis. To get y intercept , always plugin x=0 and solve for y. Y intercept is written in the form (0,y)
Example3: Find the intercepts of y= -2x+6 and then graph the equation using intercepts only.
Solution;
X intercept: Plugin y=0 and solve for x.
0=-2x+6
-6=-2x
3=x => (3,0)
Y intercept: Plugin x=0 and solve for y.
y= -2(0)+6
y=6 => (0,6)
When we plot these two points on a grid, we get the following graph.
Practice problems:
- Find at least three random points for equation y=5x-4 and graph the equation by plotting those points.
- Graph the equation 5y-x=10 by plotting points. Be sure to get integers for your points not decimals.
- Find x and y intercepts for 3x+2y=6. Graph the equation using these intercepts.
Answers:
- (0,-4) , (1,1), (2,6)
- (-5,1) , (0,2), (5,3)
- X intercept (2,0) Y intercept (0,3)