Writing

Writing and
and
Graphing
Graphing Linear
Linear
Equations
Equations
Linear equations can be used to represent
relationships.
Writing Equations and Graphing

 These activities introduce rates of change and

defines slope of a line as the ratio of the
vertical change to the horizontal change.

 This leads to graphing a linear equation and

writing the equation of a line in three different
forms.
Linear equation – An equation whose
solutions form a straight line on a
coordinate plane.
Collinear – Points that lie on the same
line.
Slope – A measure of the steepness of a
line on a graph; rise divided by the run.
A linear equation
is an equation whose
solutions fall on a
line on the
coordinate plane. All
solutions of a
particular linear
equation fall on the
line, and all the
points on the line are
solutions of the
equation.
Look at the graph to
the left, points (1, 3)
and (-3, -5) are
found on the line
and are solutions to
the equation.
If an equation is linear,
a constant change in
the x-value produces a
constant change in the
y-value.

The graph to the right

shows an example
where each time the x-
value increases by 2,
the
y-value increases by 3.
 The equation
y = 2x + 6
is a linear equation
because it is the
graph of a straight
line and each time
x increases by 1
unit, y increases by
X Y =2x +6 Y (x, y)
2
1 2(1) +6 8 (1, 8)
2 2(2) +6 10 (2, 10)
3 2(3) +6 12 (3, 12)
4 2(4) +6 14 (4, 14)
5 2(5) +6 16 (5, 16)
Real world example

The graph
(c = 5x + 10)
at the left shows the
cost for Company A
cell phone charges.

What does
Company A charge
for 20 minutes of
service?
Graphing equations can be down several
different ways. Tables can be used to
graph linear equations by simply graphing
the points from the table.
Complete the table below, then graph and
tell whether it is linear.

x y =2x +3 y (x, y)
-2
-1
0
1
2
Can you determine if the equation is
linear? The equation y = 2x + 3 is a linear
equation because it is the graph of a
straight line. Each time x increases by 1
unit, y increases by 2.

X y =2x +3 Y (x,y)
-2 2 (-2) +3 -1 (-2, 1)
-1 2(-1) +3 1 (-1, 1)
0 2(0) +3 3 (0, 3)
1 2(1) +3 5 (1, 5)
2 2(2) +3 7 (2, 7)
Slope
Slope
Rate of change
Slope of a line is its rate of change. The
following example describes how slope
(rate of change) is applied.
Rate of change is also know as grade or
pitch, or rise over run. Change is often
symbolized in mathematics by a delta for
which the symbol is the Greek letter: Δ
Finding slope (rate of change) using a
graph and two points.
If an equation is linear, a constant change
in the x-value corresponds to a constant
change in the y-value. The graph shows an
example where each time the x-value
increases by 3, the y-value increases by 2.
Slopes: positive, negative, no slope (zero),
undefined.
Remember, linear equations have constant
slope. For a line on the coordinate plane,
slope is the following ratio. This ratio is
often referred to as “rise over run”.
Find the slope of the line that passes
through each pair of points.

1) (1, 3) and (2, 4)

2) (0, 0) and (6, -3)

3) (2, -5) and (1, -2)

4) (3, 1) and (0, 3)

5) (-2, -8) and (1, 4)

Graphing a Line Using a Point and the Slope
Graph the line passing through (1, 3) with
slope 2.
Given the point (4, 2), find the slope of this
line?

To make finding
slope easier, find
where the line
crosses at an x and
y junction.
Finding Slope from a
Graph

Use the graph of the

line to determine its
slope. Choose two
points on the line (-4,
4) and (8, -2). Count
the rise over run or
you can use the
slope formula.
Notice if you switch
(x1, y1) and (x2, y2),
you get the same
slope:
Use the graph to find the slope of the line.
 Using
Using Slopes
Slopes
and
and Intercepts
Intercepts
x-intercepts and y-intercepts
x-intercept – the x-coordinate of the point
where the graph of a line crosses the x-axis
(where y = 0).
y-intercept – the y-coordinate of the point
where the graph of a line crosses the y-axis
(where x = 0).
Slope-intercept form (of an equation) – a
linear equation written in the form y = mx +b,
where m represents slope and b represents
the y-intercept.
Standard form (of an equation) – an
equation written in the form of Ax + By = C,
where A, B, and C are real numbers, and A
and B are both ≠ 0.
 The standard form of
a linear equation, Standard Form
you can use the x-
and y- intercepts to of an Equation
make a graph.
 The x-intercept is
the x-value of the
point where the line
crosses. Ax + By =
 The y-intercept is
the y-value of the
C
point where the line
crosses.
To graph a linear equation in standard
form, you fine the x-intercept by
substituting 0 for y and solving for x. Then
substitute 0 for x and solve for y.
2x + 3y = 6 2x + 3y = 6
2x + 3(0) = 6 2(0) + 3y = 6
2x = 6 3y = 6
x=3 y=2

The x-intercept is 3. The y-intercept is 2.

(y = 0) (x = 0)
 Let’s take a look at that equation again!

2x + 3y = 6 2x + 3y = 6 Again, since 2(0) =

0, just cover up 2x
Since 3(0) = 0,
just cover up the
2x = 6 3y = 6 and solve what’s
left.
3y and solve
what’s left. x=3 y=2

Since you are substituting (0) in for one

variable and solving for the other,
any number multiplied times (0) = 0.
So, in the first example 3(0) = 0, and in
the second example 2(0) = 0.
Find the x-intercept and y-intercept of each
line. Use the intercepts to graph the
equation.
1) x–y=5

2) 2x + 3y = 12

3) 4x = 12 + 3y

4) 2x + y = 7

5) 2y = 20 – 4x
Slope-intercept
Slope-intercept
Form
Form
y = mx + b
 An equation whose
graph is a straight line
is a linear equation.
Slope-intercept
Since a function rule is
an equation, a function
Form
can also be linear.
 m = slope

Y = mx + b
 b = y-intercept

(if you know the slope and

where the line crosses the
y-axis, use this form)
For example in the equation;
y = 3x + 6
m = 3, so the slope is 3
b = +6, so the y-intercept is +6
Let’s look at another:
y = 4/5x -7
m = 4/5, so the slope is 4/5
b = -7, so the y-intercept is -7
Please note that in the slope-intercept formula;
y = mx + b
the “y” term is all by itself on the left side of the
equation.
That is very important!
WHY?
If the “y” is not all by itself, then we must first
use the rules of algebra to isolate the “y” term.
For example in the equation:

2y = 8x + 10

You will notice that in order to get “y” all by itself

we have to divide both sides by 2.
After you have done that, the equation becomes:
Y = 4x + 5
Only then can we determine the slope (4), and
the y-intercept (+5)
OK…getting back to the lesson…
Your job is to write the equation of a line
after you are given the slope and y-
intercept…

Let’s try one…

Given “m” (the slope remember!) = 2

And “b” (the y-intercept) = +9
All you have to do is plug those values
into
y = mx + b
The equation becomes…
y = 2x + 9
Let’s do a couple more to make sure you
are expert at this.

Given m = 2/3, b = -12,

Write the equation of a line in slope-intercept form.
Y = mx + b
Y = 2/3x – 12
*************************
One last example…
Given m = -5, b = -1
Write the equation of a line in slope-intercept form.
Y = mx + b
Y = -5x - 1
Given the slope and y-intercept, write the
equation of a line in slope-intercept form.

1) m = 3, b = -14
Slope-intercept form

2) m = -½, b = 4 of an equation
Y = mx + b

3) m = -3, b = -7

4) m = 1/2 , b = 0

5) m = 2, b = 4
Using slope-intercept
form to find slopes and
y-intercepts

The graph at the right

shows the equation of a
line both in standard
form and slope-intercept
form.

You must rewrite the

equation 6x – 3y = 12 in
slope-intercept to be able
to identify the slope and
y-intercept.
Using slope-intercept form to write
equations, Rewrite the equation solving
for y = to determine the slope and y-
intercept.

3x – y = 14 x + 2y = 8
-y = -3x + 14 2y = -x + 8
-1 -1 -1 2 2 2
y = 3x – 14 or y = -1x + 4
3x – y = 14 2
3x = y + 14
3x – 14 = y
Write each equation in slope-intercept
form.
Identify the slope and y-intercept.
2x + y = 10

-4x + y = 6

4x + 3y = 9

2x + y = 3

5y = 3x
 Write the equation of a line in slope-
intercept form that passes through points
(3, -4) and
(-1, 4).
Do you
remembe
r the
slope
formula?
2) Choose either point and
substitute. Solve for b.
1) Find the
y = mx + b (3, -4)
slope.
-4 = (-2)(3) + b
4 – (-4) 8
-4 = -6 + b
-1 – 3 -4
2=b
m = -2
Substitute m and b in
equation.
Y = mx + b
Y = -2x + 2
Write the equation of the line in
slope-intercept form that passes through
each pair of points.
1) (-1, -6) and (2, 6)

2) (0, 5) and (3, 1)

3) (3, 5) and (6, 6)

4) (0, -7) and (4, 25)

5) (-1, 1) and (3, -3)

 Point-Slope
Point-Slope
Form
Form
Writing an equation when you know a point and
the slope
 Suppose you know that Point-Slope
a line passes through Form and
the point (3, 4) with
slope 2. You can Writing
quickly write an Equations
equation of the line
using the x- and y-
coordinates of the point y – y1 = m(x –
and using the slope. x1 )
 The point-slope form (if you know a point and
of the equation of a the slope, use this
nonvertical line that form)
passes through the
(x1, y1) with slope m.
 Let’s try a couple.

Using point-slope form, write the equation of a

line that passes through (4, 1) with slope -2.
y – y1 = m(x – x1)
y – 1 = -2(x – 4)Substitute 4 for x , 1 for y
1 1 and -
2 for m.

Write in slope-intercept form.

y – 1 = -2x + 8 Add 1 to both sides
y = -2x + 9
 One last example

Using point-slope form, write the equation of a

line that passes through (-1, 3) with slope 7.
y – y1 = m(x – x1)
y – 3 = 7[x – (-1)]
y – 3 = 7(x + 1)

Write in slope-intercept form

y – 3 = 7x + 7
y = 7x + 10
If you know two points on a line, first use
them to find the slope. Then you can write
an equation using either point.

 Step one – Find the y2  y1

m
slope of a line with x2  x1
1 3 2
  1
points (-4, 3), (-2, 1)  2   4  2
Step Two – Use either point to write the
equation in point-slope form. Use (-4, 3)

y – y1 = m(x – x1)
Y – 3 = -1[x – (-4)]
Y – 3 = -1(x + 4)

Write in slope-intercept form

Y – 3 = -1(x + 4)
Y – 3 = -x - 4
Y = -x - 1
 Equation
Equation Forms
Forms
(review)
(review)
When working with straight lines,
there are often many ways to arrive
at an equation or a graph.
Slope Intercept Form

If you know the slope and where the

line crosses the y-axis, use this form.

y = mx + b

m = slope
b = y-intercept
(where the line crosses the y-axis)
Point Slope Form

If you know a point and the slope, use

this form.

y – y1 = m(x – x1)

m = slope

(x1, y1) = a point on the line

Horizontal Lines

y=3 (or any number)

Lines that are horizontal have a slope of zero.
They have “run” but no “rise”. The rise/run
formula for slope always equals zero since rise
= o.
y = mx + b
y = 0x + 3
y=3
This equation also describes what is happening to
the y-coordinates on the line. In this case, they
are always 3.
 Vertical Lines

x = -2

Lines that are vertical have no slope

(it does not exist).
They have “rise”, but no “run”. The rise/run
formula for slope always has a zero
denominator and is undefined.
These lines are described by what is happening
to their x-coordinates. In this example, the x-
coordinates are always equal to -2.
There are several ways to graph a straight
line given its equation.
Let’s quickly refresh our memories on equations of straight
lines:

Slope-intercept Point-slope Horizontal line Vertical line

y =mx +b y - y1 =m(x – x1) Y =3 (or any #) X =-2 (or any #)
When stated in “y=” when graphing, put Horizontal lines have Vertical line have no
f orm, it quickly gives this equation into a slope of zero – slope (it does not
the slope, m, and “y=” f orm to easily they have “run”, but exist) – they have
where the line read graphing no “rise” – all of the “rise”, but no “run” –
crosses the y-axis, b, inf ormation. y values are 3. all of the x values
called the y- are -2.
intercept.
Remember

Before graphing a line,

If a point lies on a line, be sure that your
its coordinates make equation starts with
the equation true. “ y =”
(2, 1) on the line To graph 6x + 2y = 8
y = 2x -3 because rewrite the equation:
1 = 2(2) - 3 2y = -6x + 8
Y = -3x + 4
Now graph the line
using either slope
intercept method or
table method.
Practice with Equations of Lines
Answer the following questions dealing with
equations and graphs of straight lines.

1) Which of the following equations passes

through the points (2, 1) and (5, -2)?

a. y = 3/7x + 5 b. y = -x + 3
c. y = -x + 2 d. y = -1/3x + 3
2) Does the graph of the straight
line with slope of 2 and y-intercept of
3 pass through the point (5, 13)?

Yes

No
3) The slope of this line is 3/2?

True

False
4) What is the slope of the line
3x + 2y = 12?

a) 3
b) 3/2
c) -3/2
d) 2
5) Which is the slope of the line
through (-2, 3) and (4, -5)?

a) -4/3
b) -3/4
c) 4/3
d) -1/3
6) What is the slope of the line shown in
the chart below?

X 1 3 5 7
Y 2 5 8 11

a) 1
b) 3/2
c) 3
d) 3/5
7) Does the line 2y + x = 7 pass
through the point (1, 3)?

True

False
8) Which is the equation of a line
whose slope is undefined?

a) x = -5
b) y=7
c) x=y
d) x+y=0
9) Which is the equation of a line that
passes through (2, 5) and has slope -
3?

a) y = -3x – 3
b) y = -3x + 17
c) y = -3x + 11
d) y = -3x + 5
10) Which of these equations
represents a line parallel to the
line
2x + y = 6?

a) Y = 2x + 3
b) Y – 2x = 4
c) 2x – y = 8
d) Y = -2x + 1
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