# 4.4: Graphs of Lines from Equations

Difficulty Level: At Grade Created by: CK-12

Can you graph the linear function 4y5x=16\begin{align*}4y-5x=16\end{align*} on a Cartesian grid?

### Guidance

The graph of any linear function can be plotted using the slope-intercept form of the equation.

• Step 1: Solve the equation for y\begin{align*}y\end{align*} if it is not already in the form y=mx+b\begin{align*}y=mx+b\end{align*}.
• Step 2: To graph the function, start by plotting the y\begin{align*}y\end{align*}-intercept.
• Step 3: Use the slope to find another point on the line. From the y\begin{align*}y\end{align*}-intercept, move to the right the number of units equal to the denominator of the slope and then up or down the number of units equal to the numerator of the slope. Plot the point.
• Step 4: Connect these two points to form a line and extend the line.

Note: You can repeat Step 3 multiple times in order to find more points on the line if you wish.

Because the equations of horizontal and vertical lines are special, these types of lines can be graphed differently:

• The graph of a horizontal line will have an equation of the form y=a\begin{align*}y=a\end{align*} where a\begin{align*}a\end{align*} is the y-intercept of the line. You can simply draw a horizontal line through the y-intercept to sketch the graph.
• The graph of a vertical line will have an equation of the form x=c\begin{align*}x=c\end{align*}, where x\begin{align*}x\end{align*} is the x-intercept of the line. You can simply draw a vertical line through the x-intercept to sketch the graph.

#### Example A

For the following linear function, state the y\begin{align*}y\end{align*}-intercept and the slope: 4x3y9=0\begin{align*}4x-3y-9=0\end{align*}.

Solution:

The first step is to rewrite the equation in the form y=mx+b\begin{align*}y=mx+b\end{align*}. To do this, solve the equation in terms of ‘y\begin{align*}y\end{align*}’.

4x3y9=04x4x3y9=04x3y9=4x  3y9+9=4x+9  3y=4x+93y3=4x3+933y3=4x3+93y=43x3Apply the zero principle to move x to the right side of the equation.Apply the zero principle to move 9 to the right of the equation.Divide all terms by the coefficient of y. Divide by 3.\begin{align*}& \qquad 4x-3y-9=0 && \text{Apply the zero principle to move} \ x \ \text{to the right side of the equation.}\\ & 4x{\color{red}-4x}-3y-9=0{\color{red}-4x}\\ & \qquad \quad -3y-9=-4x && \text{Apply the zero principle to move} \ -9 \ \text{to the right of the equation.}\\ & \quad \ \ -3y-9{\color{red}+9}=-4x{\color{red}+9}\\ & \qquad \qquad \ \ -3y=-4x+9 && \text{Divide all terms by the coefficient of} \ y. \ \text{Divide by} \ -3.\\ & \qquad \qquad \quad \frac{-3y}{{\color{red}-3}}=\frac{-4x}{{\color{red}-3}}+\frac{9}{{\color{red}-3}}\\ & \qquad \qquad \quad \frac{\cancel{-3}y}{{\color{red}\cancel{-3}}}=\frac{-4x}{{\color{red}-3}}+\frac{9}{{\color{red}-3}}\\ & \qquad \qquad \qquad \boxed{y=\frac{4}{3}x-3}\end{align*}

The y\begin{align*}y\end{align*}-intercept is (0, -3) and the slope is 43\begin{align*}\frac{4}{3}\end{align*}.

#### Example B

Graph the linear function y=35x+7\begin{align*}y=\frac{-3}{5}x+7\end{align*} on a Cartesian grid.

Solution:

The y\begin{align*}y\end{align*}-intercept is (0, 7) and the slope is 35\begin{align*}\frac{-3}{5}\end{align*}. Begin by plotting the y\begin{align*}y\end{align*}-intercept on the grid.

From the y\begin{align*}y\end{align*}-intercept, move to the right (run) 5 units and then move downward (rise) 3 units. Plot a point here.

Join the points with a straight line. Use a straight edge to draw the line.

#### Example C

Plot the following linear equations on a Cartesian grid.

i) x=3\begin{align*}x=-3\end{align*}

ii) y=5\begin{align*}y=5\end{align*}

Solution:

i) A line that has x=3\begin{align*}x=-3\end{align*} as its equation passes through all points that have -3 as the x\begin{align*}x-\end{align*}coordinate. The line also has a slope that is undefined. This line is parallel to the y\begin{align*}y\end{align*}-axis.

ii) A line that y=5\begin{align*}y=5\end{align*} has as its equation passes through all points that have 5 as the y\begin{align*}y-\end{align*}coordinate. The line also has a slope of zero. This line is parallel to the x\begin{align*}x\end{align*}-axis.

#### Concept Problem Revisited

Plot the linear function 4y5x=16\begin{align*}4y-5x=16\end{align*} on a Cartesian grid.

The first step is to rewrite the function in slope-intercept form.

4y5x=164y5x+5x=16+5x 4y=16+5x4y4=164+5x4  y=4+54x y=54x+4Apply the zero principle to move 5x to the right side of the equation.Divide every term 4.Write the equation in the form y=mx+b.\begin{align*}& \qquad 4y-5x=16 && \text{Apply the zero principle to move} \ 5x \ \text{to the right side of the equation.}\\ & 4y-5x{\color{red}+5x}=16{\color{red}+5x}\\ & \qquad \qquad \ 4y=16+5x && \text{Divide every term} \ 4.\\ & \qquad \qquad \frac{4y}{{\color{red}4}}=\frac{16}{{\color{red}4}}+\frac{5x}{{\color{red}4}}\\ & \qquad \qquad \ \ y=4+\frac{5}{4}x && \text{Write the equation in the form} \ y=mx+b.\\ & \qquad \qquad \ \boxed{y=\frac{5}{4}x+4}\end{align*}

The slope of the line is 54\begin{align*}\frac{5}{4}\end{align*} and the t\begin{align*}t\end{align*}-intercept is (0, 4)

Plot the y\begin{align*}y\end{align*}-intercept at (0, 4). From the y\begin{align*}y\end{align*}-intercept, move to the right 4 units and then move upward 5 units. Plot the point. Using a straight edge, join the points.

### Vocabulary

Slope-Intercept Form

The slope-intercept form is one method for writing the equation of a line. The slope-intercept form is y=mx+b\begin{align*}y=mx+b\end{align*} where m\begin{align*}m\end{align*} refers to the slope and b\begin{align*}b\end{align*} identifies the y\begin{align*}y\end{align*}-intercept. This form is used to plot the graph of a linear function.

### Guided Practice

1. Using the slope-intercept method, graph the linear function y=32x1\begin{align*}y=-\frac{3}{2}x-1\end{align*}

2. Using the slope-intercept method, graph the linear function 7x3y15=0\begin{align*}7x-3y-15=0\end{align*}

3. Graph the following lines on the same Cartesian grid. What shape is formed by the graphs?

(a) y=3\begin{align*}y=-3\end{align*}
(b) x=4\begin{align*}x=4\end{align*}
(c) y=2\begin{align*}y=2\end{align*}
(d) x=6\begin{align*}x=-6\end{align*}

1. The slope of the line is 32\begin{align*}-\frac{3}{2}\end{align*} and the y\begin{align*}y\end{align*}-intercept is (0, -1). Plot the y\begin{align*}y\end{align*}-intercept. Apply the slope to the y\begin{align*}y\end{align*}-intercept. Use a straight edge to join the two points.

2. Write the equation in slope-intercept form.

7x3y15=07x7x3y15=07x  3y15=7x3y15+15=7x+153y=7x+15 3y3=7x3+153 y=73x5Solve the equation in terms of the variable y.\begin{align*}& \quad \ \ 7x-3y-15=0 && \text{Solve the equation in terms of the variable} \ y.\\ & 7x{\color{red}-7x}-3y-15=0{\color{red}-7x}\\ & \qquad \ \ -3y-15=-7x\\ & \quad -3y-15{\color{red}+15}=-7x{\color{red}+15}\\ & \qquad \qquad \quad -3y=-7x+15\\ & \qquad \qquad \quad \ \frac{-3y}{{\color{red}-3}}=\frac{-7x}{{\color{red}-3}}+\frac{15}{{\color{red}-3}}\\ & \qquad \qquad \qquad \ \boxed{y =\frac{7}{3}x-5}\end{align*}
The slope is \begin{align*}\frac{7}{3}\end{align*} and the \begin{align*}y\end{align*}-intercept is (0, -5). Plot the \begin{align*}y\end{align*}-intercept. Apply the slope to the \begin{align*}y\end{align*}-intercept. Use a straight edge to join the two points.

3. There are four lines to be graphed. The lines \begin{align*}a\end{align*} and \begin{align*}c\end{align*} are lines with a slope of zero and are parallel to the \begin{align*}x\end{align*}-axis. The lines \begin{align*}b\end{align*} and \begin{align*}d\end{align*} are lines that have a slope that is undefined and are parallel to the \begin{align*}x\end{align*}-axis. The shape is a rectangle.

### Practice

For each of the following linear functions, state the slope and the \begin{align*}y\end{align*}-intercept:

1. \begin{align*}y=\frac{5}{8}x+3\end{align*}
2. \begin{align*}4x+5y-3=0\end{align*}
3. \begin{align*}4x-3y+21=0\end{align*}
4. \begin{align*}y=-7\end{align*}
5. \begin{align*}9y-8x=27\end{align*}

Using the slope-intercept method, graph the following linear functions:

1. \begin{align*}3x+y=4\end{align*}
2. \begin{align*}3x-2y=-4\end{align*}
3. \begin{align*}2x+6y+18=0\end{align*}
4. \begin{align*}3x+7y=0\end{align*}
5. \begin{align*}4x-5y=-30\end{align*}

Graph the following linear equations and state the slope of the line:

1. \begin{align*}x=-5\end{align*}
2. \begin{align*}y=8\end{align*}
3. \begin{align*}y=-4\end{align*}
4. \begin{align*}x=7\end{align*}

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Dec 19, 2012