Understanding and Graphing Linear Equations | Explained with an Example

y = -3x + 2

The given equation is a linear equation in the form of y = mx + b, where m represents the slope of the line and b represents the y-intercept

The given equation is a linear equation in the form of y = mx + b, where m represents the slope of the line and b represents the y-intercept.

In the given equation y = -3x + 2, the coefficient of x is -3, which means the slope of the line is -3. This tells us that for every 1 unit increase in x, y will decrease by 3 units.

The y-intercept is the point where the line intersects the y-axis. In this equation, the y-intercept is 2, which means that the line crosses the y-axis at the point (0, 2).

To graph this equation, you can start by plotting the y-intercept on the coordinate plane. Place a point at (0, 2). Then, use the slope to find other points on the line. Since the slope is -3, we can use the slope to determine the next points by moving 1 unit to the right and 3 units down from any point on the line.

For example, if we start from the y-intercept (0, 2), we can move 1 unit to the right to get to (1, -1). From there, we can move 1 unit to the right again and 3 units down to get to (2, -4). We can continue this process to find more points on the line.

After plotting a few points, you can connect them with a straight line to graph the equation. The graph will be a downward-sloping line that passes through the y-intercept (0, 2).

Note: It’s always a good practice to plot at least two points and connect them with a line to ensure accuracy when graphing linear equations.

More Answers: