Chapter 3: Problem 67
graph each linear equation in two variables. Find at least five solutions in your table of values for each equation. $$y=\frac{1}{2} x$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The solutions to the equation \(y=\frac{1}{2}x\) are \((-4, -2)\), \((-2, -1)\), \((0, 0)\), \((2, 1)\), and \((4, 2)\), and its graph is a straight line that passes through these points.
Step by step solution
01
Compute Solutions
Substitute values into the equation \(y=\frac{1}{2}x\) to find at least five solutions. For instance, when \(x = -4\), \(x = -2\), \(x = 0\), \(x = 2\) and \(x = 4\), compute for the corresponding 'y' values.
02
Create the Table of Values
The table is comprised of 'x' values and their corresponding 'y' values. The five solution pairs are \((-4, -2)\), \((-2, -1)\), \((0, 0)\), \((2, 1)\), and \((4, 2)\).
03
Plot the Solutions on the Graph
Draw the x and y axes on your graph. Then plot the ordered pairs \((-4, -2)\), \((-2, -1)\), \((0, 0)\), \((2, 1)\), and \((4, 2)\) on the graph. Each pair represents points on the line.
04
Draw the Line of the Equation
After plotting the solutions, connect them with a straight line. This line represents the solutions to the equation \(y=\frac{1}{2}x\). Every point on this line is a solution to the equation.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Graphing Equations
Graphing a linear equation involves visualizing how the solutions to the equation appear on a coordinate plane. Linear equations in two variables, like the one given, form straight lines when graphed. The equation \( y = \frac{1}{2}x \) means for every value of \( x \), \( y \) is one-half of \( x \). This consistent relationship between \( x \) and \( y \) is what produces the straight line on the graph.
- Start by understanding the format of the equation, in this case a slope-intercept form where \( y = mx + b \). Here, \( m \) is the slope and \( b \) is the y-intercept.
- The slope, \( \frac{1}{2} \), tells us the line rises 1 unit for every 2 units it moves to the right.
- The line crosses the origin because there's no \( b \) term in the equation, meaning \( b = 0 \).
Table of Values
Creating a table of values helps to organize and keep track of your computations. It also visually lays out the relationship between \( x \) and \( y \). For our equation, \( y = \frac{1}{2}x \), carefully choosing values for \( x \) will lead to corresponding \( y \) values that can be plotted to graph the line.
- Select at least five distinct values for \( x \). It's useful to include both negative and positive values, as well as zero.
- Calculate the corresponding \( y \) value for each selected \( x \) by substituting them into the equation.
- Record each \( x \) and \( y \) pair in your table. The table might look like this:
\(\begin{array}{c|c}x & y \\hline-4 & -2 \-2 & -1 \0 & 0 \2 & 1 \4 & 2 \\end{array}\)
Solution Pairs
Solution pairs are the \( (x, y) \) coordinates that satisfy the equation. Think of them as ordered pairs that tell you exactly where to place a point on the graph. For a linear equation such as \( y = \frac{1}{2}x \), each solution pair lies on the line represented by the equation.
- Identify several values for \( x \) and calculate the corresponding \( y \) values to get solution pairs like \((-4, -2)\), \((-2, -1)\), \((0, 0)\), \((2, 1)\), and \((4, 2)\).
- Each pair indicates specific points that satisfy the linear equation.
- These pairs help visualize the relationship described by the equation; plotting them should form a straight line.
Plotting Points
Plotting points on a graph takes the outputs of your equation and translates them into a visual format on the coordinate plane. It is a crucial step in graphing as it provides a foundation for drawing the line of the equation.
- Begin by drawing both the x-axis and y-axis on the graph paper. Label each axis with suitable increments to ensure all your points fit your graph.
- For each solution pair from your table (e.g., \((-4, -2)\), \((-2, -1)\), \((0, 0)\)), plot them on the graph by locating the x-value on the x-axis and finding the corresponding y-value on the y-axis.
- Mark a dot where each \( (x, y) \) pair intersects. Doing this accurately reflects each point as a place on your line.