Graphing linear Equation

A linear equation is an algebraic equation in which each term is either a constant or the product of a constant and a single variable. If you are given a simple equation and are asked to visualize it, you can do it mentally.

Now, if the equation becomes more complex, you will soon find it difficult to do it mentally. This is why the coordinate plane is here to assist.

With several simple steps, you will be able to make out any equation. As a beginning, we will use the equation for straight lines.

The straight line equation is called as linear equation.

You need to draw x-y table to help you to record the coordinates of your points in orderly manner. For more complicated equations, you may desire to get more points to have a complete picture of the equation.  The position of a point in a plane is fixed by selecting 2 axes of reference which are formed by combining 2 number lines at right angles so that their zeros coincide.
The horizontal number line is called as x-axis and the vertical number line is called y-axis.   ax + b = 0 is the linear equation in 1 variable.
The graph of x = a is a line which is parallel to y-axis at x=a. The graph of y=b is a line which is parallel to x-axis at y = b.

In order to graph using point plotting, you are required to create a table. You are required to choose at least 3 numbers for x and "plug" them into the equation to find corresponding y values. To graph by using intercepts, you are required to find both the X and the y intercept. To find x-intercept, substitute "0" for y and solve for x .To find y intercept, replace "0" in place of x and solve for y. To graph a linear equation, you will need to find the slope and y-intercept for the equation. Remember: y = m x + b slope Y-intercept.

When the slope, m, is positive, the line slants upward to the right. The positive m is, the steeper the line will slant upward to right.

When slope is negative, the line slants downward to the right, and, as the slope becomes more negative, the line will slant downward steeper to the right.

When y-intercept, b, is positive, the line crosses y-axes above y = 0. When b is negative, the line crosses y-axis somewhere below y = 0. In fact, b is the value on y-axis where the line passes through this axis. The line intercepts, or crosses, y-axis here, and, thus, b is called the y-intercept.