Chapter 3: Problem 16
Graph each linear equation by finding and plotting its intercepts See Examples 4 and \(5 .\) \(2 x+3 y=6\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
Plot the intercepts (3, 0) and (0, 2) and draw a line through them.
Step by step solution
01
Find the x-intercept
To find the x-intercept, set \(y = 0\) in the equation \(2x + 3y = 6\). By substituting \(y = 0\), we get \(2x + 3(0) = 6\), which simplifies to \(2x = 6\). Solving for \(x\), we divide both sides of the equation by 2, giving us \(x = 3\). So, the x-intercept is at the point \((3, 0)\).
02
Find the y-intercept
To find the y-intercept, set \(x = 0\) in the equation \(2x + 3y = 6\). By substituting \(x = 0\), we have \(2(0) + 3y = 6\), which simplifies to \(3y = 6\). Solving for \(y\), divide both sides by 3, giving \(y = 2\). Hence, the y-intercept is at the point \((0, 2)\).
03
Plot the Points on the Graph
Plot the x-intercept \((3, 0)\) and the y-intercept \((0, 2)\) on a coordinate grid. Place a point at \(x = 3\) on the x-axis and a point at \(y = 2\) on the y-axis.
04
Draw the Line
Draw a straight line through the points \((3, 0)\) and \((0, 2)\). This line represents the graph of the equation \(2x + 3y = 6\). Make sure the line extends beyond the intercepts, covering both the positive and negative sides of the axes.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
X-Intercept
The x-intercept is the point where a line crosses the x-axis on a graph. To find this point, you need to set the \(y\) value to zero in the equation of the line. For the equation \(2x + 3y = 6\), substituting \(y = 0\) simplifies the equation to \(2x = 6\). Solve for \(x\) by dividing each side by 2, which gives \(x = 3\). Thus, the x-intercept is \((3, 0)\). This means the line touches the x-axis at the point \(x = 3\), when \(y\) is zero. This concept is crucial for graphing linear equations, as it offers a clear point through which the line crosses the axis.
Y-Intercept
The y-intercept is where a line intersects the y-axis on a graph. To locate this intersection, set \(x = 0\) in the line's equation. For the given equation \(2x + 3y = 6\), substitute \(x = 0\), simplifying to \(3y = 6\). Solving for \(y\) requires dividing each side by 3, resulting in \(y = 2\). Hence, the y-intercept is \((0, 2)\). This indicates that the line passes through the y-axis at \(y = 2\) when \(x\) is zero. Understanding y-intercepts helps in graphing lines, providing another pivotal point that shapes the line's path on the coordinate grid.
Coordinate Grid
A coordinate grid is a two-dimensional plane formed by the intersection of two perpendicular lines called axes: the x-axis (horizontal) and the y-axis (vertical). These axes divide the plane into four quadrants and allow for the precise plotting of points using ordered pairs \((x, y)\).
- The x-axis usually represents the horizontal dimension.
- The y-axis represents the vertical dimension.
Equation Solving
Equation solving is the process of finding unknown variables that satisfy a mathematical statement. In the context of linear equations, it involves algebraic manipulations to find values for \(x\) and \(y\).
- Start by identifying which variable you want to solve for.
- Isolate the variable by performing inverse operations (such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division) on both sides of the equation.
- Simplify as needed to find the solution.