Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You’ll Need:
Step1
Draw a pair of perpendicular lines. These are your axes (the plural of "axis"). Label the horizontal axis "x" and the vertical axis "y." Label several different values, both positive and negative, of x and y on both axes. This is the scale of the graph.
Step2
Remember that your equation should be in the form y = mx + b (if it is in a different form, solve for y in terms of x).
Step3
Draw a dot on the y axis at y = b. This is the y-intercept of the graph (the point at which the graph crosses the y-axis).
Step4
Choose a value for x other than 0 and mark this on the x-axis you've drawn. Lightly draw a vertical line that crosses this value of x on your x-axis.
Step5
Plug the x value you chose into your equation.
Step6
Solve for y. Lightly draw a horizontal line that crosses this value of y on your y-axis.
Step7
Make a dot where the two lines you just drew intersect.
Step8
Draw a straight line between this dot and the y-intercept. Extend this line in both directions to the edges of your graph. This line is the graph of your equation.
Comments
tombelcher7 said
on 4/13/2008 To find the y intercept you mention y = b is this a general 'rule of thumb' or will this change i.e if y = 6x + 7 then would y = 7?
tombelcher7 said
on 4/13/2008 To find the y intercept you mention y = b is this a general 'rule of thumb' or will this change i.e if y = 6x + 7 then would y = 7?
Anonymous said
on 6/30/2006 To test to see if the equation is true, after graphing put in (0,0) for y. If it's less than or greater than the number then you draw lines toward the the side of the 0. Example y=2x+3. Put in (0,0) for y. Since it's true, you draw lines toward the 0.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 If the line is straight, you have a linear line. If it is not, because it is curved or crooked, then you can tell that it is not.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Simple. ... Don't be afraid to ask for help! That's what teachers are there for!