10TH EDITION

COLLEGE
ALGEBRA

LIAL
HORNSBY
SCHNEIDER

2.4 - 1
2.4 Linear Functions
Graphing Linear Functions
Standard Form Ax + By = C
Slope
Average Rate of Change

2.4 - 2
Linear Function

A function  is a linear function if, for

real numbers a and b,
( x )  ax  b.

2.4 - 3
 Example 1 GRAPHING A LINEAR FUNCTION
USING INTERCEPTS
Graph (x) = – 2x + 6. Give the domain and
range.
Solution The x-intercept is found by letting
(x) = 0 and solving for x.

( x )  2x  6
0  2x  6
x 3 Add 2x; divide by 2.

2.4 - 4
 Example 1 GRAPHING A LINEAR FUNCTION
USING INTERCEPTS
Graph (x) = – 2x + 6. Give the domain and
range.
Solution
The x-intercept is 3, so we plot (3, 0). The
y-intercept is
(0)  2(0)  6  6

Plot this point and connect the two points

with a straight line. Find a check point.

2.4 - 5
 Example 1 GRAPHING A LINEAR FUNCTION
USING INTERCEPTS
Graph (x) = – 2x + 6. Give the domain and
range. y
Solution
( x )  2x  6
(0, 6)
check point
y-intercept (2, 2)

x
(3, 0)
The domain and range
are both(– , ). x-intercept

2.4 - 6
 Example 2 GRAPHING A HORIZONTAL LINE

Graph (x) = – 3. Give the domain and

range. y
Solution Since (x),
or y, always equals – 3,
the value of y can
never be 0.
A line with no x-
intercept is parallel to x
the x-axis. ( x )  3 Horizontal line
The domain is (– , ).
(0, – 3)
The range is {– 3}.

2.4 - 7
 Example 3 GRAPHING A VERTICAL LINE

Graph x = – 3. Give the domain and range.

y
Solution Since x
always equals – 3, Vertical line
the value of x can
never be 0, and the
graph has no y- ( – 3, 0)
intercept and is x
parallel to the y- x  3
axis

2.4 - 8
 Example 3 GRAPHING A VERTICAL LINE

Graph x = – 3. Give the domain and range.

y
The domain of
this relation, Vertical line
which is not a
function, is {– 3}.
( – 3, 0)
The range is
x
(– , ).
x  3

2.4 - 9
 Motion Problems

Note In this text we will agree that if the

coefficients and constant in a linear equation are
rational numbers, then we will consider the
standard form to be Ax  By  C

where A ≥ 0, A, B, and C are integers, and the

greatest common factor of A, B, and C is 1. (If
two or more integers have a greatest common
factor of 1, they are said to be relatively prime.)

2.4 - 10
 Example 4 GRAPHING Ax + By = C WITH C = 0

Graph 4x – 5y = 0. Give the domain and

range.
Solution Find the intercepts.
4(0)  5y  0 Let x = 0. 4 x  5(0)  0 Let y = 0.

y 0 y-intercept x 0 x-intercept

This graph has one intercept-at the origin.

2.4 - 11
 Example 4 GRAPHING Ax + By = C WITH C = 0

Graph 4x – 5y = 0. Give the domain and

range. y
Solution Graph the
intercept (0, 0) and find 4 x  5y  0
another point. ( 5, 4)
4 x  5y  0
( 0, 0)
4(5)  5y  0 x

20  5y  0
4y
2.4 - 12
 Slope

An important characteristic of a straight line

is its slope, a numerical measure of the
steepness of a line. Geometrically it may be
interpreted as the ratio of rise to run.

Use two distinct points. The change in the

horizontal distance, x2 – x1, is denoted as ∆x
(delta x) and the change in the vertical
distance, y2 – y1, is denoted as ∆y.
2.4 - 13
Slope
The slope m of a line through points (x1, y1) and
(x2, y2) is
rise y y 2  y1
m   ,
run x x2  x1
where ∆x ≠ 0.

2.4 - 14
Undefined Slope

The slope of a vertical line is

undefined.

2.4 - 15
 Example 5 FINDING SLOPES WITH THE
SLOPE FORMULA
Find the slope of the line through the given
points.
a. (  4,8), (2, 3)
Solution Let x1 = – 4, y1 = 8, and x2 = 2,
y2 = – 3. Then, rise  y  3  8  11
and run  x  2  ( 4)  6.
rise y 11 11
m   
run x 6 6
2.4 - 16
 Example 5 FINDING SLOPES WITH THE
SLOPE FORMULA
Find the slope of the line through the given
points.
b. (2,7), (2,  4)
Solution
 4  7 11
m  Undefined
22 0
The slope of a vertical line is undefined.

2.4 - 17
 Example 5 FINDING SLOPES WITH THE
SLOPE FORMULA
Find the slope of the line through the given
points.
c. (5, 3), ( 2, 3)
Solution
3  ( 3) 0
m  0
2  5 7
Drawing a graph through these two points
would produce a horizontal line.
2.4 - 18
Zero Slope

The slope of a horizontal line is 0.

2.4 - 19
 Eample 6 FINDING THE SLOPE FROM AN
EQUATION
Find the slope of the line.
y   4x  3
Solution Find any two ordered pairs that are
solutions of the equation.
If x  2, then y   4( 2)  3  5,
and if x  0, then y   4(0)  3  3.
so two ordered pairs are (2,5) and (0, 3).
3  5 8
m    4.
0  ( 2) 2
2.4 - 20
 Example 7 GRAPHING A LINE USING A
POINT AND THE SLOPE
Graph the line passing through
5
( 1,5) and having slope  .
3

Solution Locate the point and move 5 units

down and three units horizontally to the right.
This gives a second point (2, 0) which can be
used to complete the graph.

2.4 - 21
Example 7 GRAPHING A LINE USING A
POINT AND THE SLOPE
y

(– 1, 5)
Down
5
(2, 0)
x
Right
3

2.4 - 22
 Slopes

1. A line with a positive slope rises from left

to right.
2. A line with a negative slope falls from left
to right.
3. When the slope is positive, the function is
increasing.
4. When the slope is negative, the function
is decreasing.

2.4 - 23
 Average Rate of Change

We know that the slope of a line is the ratio

of the vertical change in y to the horizontal
change in x. So, the slope gives the rate of
change in y per unit of change in x, where
the value of y depends on the value of x. If
 is a linear function defined on [a, b], then
( b )  ( b )
average rate of change on a, b   .
ba

2.4 - 24
 Example 8 INTERPRETING SLOPE AS
AVERAGE RATE OF CHANGE
In 2001, sales of DVD players numbered 12.7
million. In 2006, estimated sales of DVD
players were 19.8 million. Find the average
rate of change in DVD players, in millions, per
year.
Solution If x = 2001 with y = 12.7 and x =
2006 with y = 19.8, then the ordered pairs are

(2001, 12.7) and (2006, 19.8)

2.4 - 25
 Example 8 INTERPRETING SLOPE AS
AVERAGE RATE OF CHANGE
In 2001, sales of DVD players numbered 12.7
million. In 2006, estimated sales of DVD players
were 19.8 million. Find the average rate of change
in DVD players, in millions, per year.

Solution (2001, 12.7) and (2006, 19.8)

19.8  12.7 7.1
average rate of change    1.42
2006  2001 5
The line through the ordered pair rises from left to
right and therefore has positive slope. The sales of
DVD players increased by an average of 1.42
million each year from 2001 to 2006.
2.4 - 26