# 4.2 Graph linear equations in two variables

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By the end of this section, you will be able to:
• Recognize the relationship between the solutions of an equation and its graph.
• Graph a linear equation by plotting points.
• Graph vertical and horizontal lines.

Before you get started, take this readiness quiz.

1. Evaluate $3x+2$ when $x=-1$ .
If you missed this problem, review [link] .
2. Solve $3x+2y=12$ for $y$ in general.
If you missed this problem, review [link] .

## Recognize the relationship between the solutions of an equation and its graph

In the previous section, we found several solutions to the equation $3x+2y=6$ . They are listed in [link] . So, the ordered pairs $\left(0,3\right)$ , $\left(2,0\right)$ , and $\left(1,\frac{3}{2}\right)$ are some solutions to the equation $3x+2y=6$ . We can plot these solutions in the rectangular coordinate system as shown in [link] .

 $3x+2y=6$ $x$ $y$ $\left(x,y\right)$ 0 3 $\left(0,3\right)$ 2 0 $\left(2,0\right)$ 1 $\frac{3}{2}$ $\left(1,\frac{3}{2}\right)$

Notice how the points line up perfectly? We connect the points with a line to get the graph of the equation $3x+2y=6$ . See [link] . Notice the arrows on the ends of each side of the line. These arrows indicate the line continues.

Every point on the line is a solution of the equation. Also, every solution of this equation is a point on this line. Points not on the line are not solutions.

Notice that the point whose coordinates are $\left(-2,6\right)$ is on the line shown in [link] . If you substitute $x=-2$ and $y=6$ into the equation, you find that it is a solution to the equation.

So the point $\left(-2,6\right)$ is a solution to the equation $3x+2y=6$ . (The phrase “the point whose coordinates are $\left(-2,6\right)$ ” is often shortened to “the point $\left(-2,6\right)$ .”)

So $\left(4,1\right)$ is not a solution to the equation $3x+2y=6$ . Therefore, the point $\left(4,1\right)$ is not on the line. See [link] . This is an example of the saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” The line shows you all the solutions to the equation. Every point on the line is a solution of the equation. And, every solution of this equation is on this line. This line is called the graph of the equation $3x+2y=6$ .

## Graph of a linear equation

The graph of a linear equation     $Ax+By=C$ is a line.

• Every point on the line is a solution of the equation.
• Every solution of this equation is a point on this line.

The graph of $y=2x-3$ is shown.

For each ordered pair, decide:

Is the ordered pair a solution to the equation?
Is the point on the line?

A $\left(0,-3\right)$  B $\left(3,3\right)$  C $\left(2,-3\right)$  D $\left(-1,-5\right)$

## Solution

Substitute the x - and y - values into the equation to check if the ordered pair is a solution to the equation.

1. Plot the points A $\left(0,3\right)$ , B $\left(3,3\right)$ , C $\left(2,-3\right)$ , and D $\left(-1,-5\right)$ .

The points $\left(0,3\right)$ , $\left(3,3\right)$ , and $\left(-1,-5\right)$ are on the line $y=2x-3$ , and the point $\left(2,-3\right)$ is not on the line.

The points that are solutions to $y=2x-3$ are on the line, but the point that is not a solution is not on the line.

Use the graph of $y=3x-1$ to decide whether each ordered pair is:

• a solution to the equation.
• on the line.

$\left(0,-1\right)$ $\left(2,5\right)$

yes, yes  yes, yes

Use graph of $y=3x-1$ to decide whether each ordered pair is:

• a solution to the equation
• on the line

$\left(3,-1\right)$ $\left(-1,-4\right)$

no, no  yes, yes

## Graph a linear equation by plotting points

There are several methods that can be used to graph a linear equation. The method we used to graph $3x+2y=6$ is called plotting points, or the Point–Plotting Method.

4x+7y=29,x+3y=11 substitute method of linear equation
substitute method of linear equation
Srinu
Solve one equation for one variable. Using the 2nd equation, x=11-3y. Substitute that for x in first equation. this will find y. then use the value for y to find the value for x.
bruce
I want to learn
Elizebeth
help
Elizebeth
I want to learn. Please teach me?
Wayne
1) Use any equation, and solve for any of the variables. Since the coefficient of x (the number in front of the x) in the second equation is 1 (it actually isn't shown, but 1 * x = x), use that equation. Subtract 3y from both sides (this isolates the x on the left side of the equal sign).
bruce
2) This results in x=11-3y. x is note in terms of y. Use that as the value of x and substitute for all x in the first equation. The first equation becomes 4(11-3y)+7y =29. Note that the only variable left in the first equation is the y. If you have multiple variable, then something is wrong.
bruce
3) Distribute (multiply) the 4 across 11-3y to get 44-12y. Add this to the 7y. So, the equation is now 44-5y=29.
bruce
4) Solve 44-5y=29 for y. Isolate the y by subtracting 44 from birth sides, resulting in -5y=-15. Now, divide birth sides by -5 (since you have -5y). This results in y=3. You now have the value of one variable.
bruce
5) The last step is to take the value of y from Step 4) and substitute into the 2nd equation. Therefore: x+3y=11 becomes x+3(3)=11. Then multiplying, x+9=11. Finally, solve for x by subtracting 9 from both sides. Therefore, x=2.
bruce
6) The ordered pair of (2, 3) is the proposed solution. To check, substitute those values into either equation. If the result is true, then the solution is correct. 4(2)+7(3)=8+21=29. TRUE! Finished.
bruce
At 1:30 Marlon left his house to go to the beach, a distance of 5.625 miles. He rose his skateboard until 2:15, and then walked the rest of the way. He arrived at the beach at 3:00. Marlon's speed on his skateboard is 1.5 times his walking speed. Find his speed when skateboarding and when walking.
divide 3x⁴-4x³-3x-1 by x-3
how to multiply the monomial
Two sisters like to compete on their bike rides. Tamara can go 4 mph faster than her sister, Samantha. If it takes Samantha 1 hours longer than Tamara to go 80 miles, how fast can Samantha ride her bike? Got questions? Get instant answers now!
how do u solve that question
Seera
Two sisters like to compete on their bike rides. Tamara can go 4 mph faster than her sister, Samantha. If it takes Samantha 1 hours longer than Tamara to go 80 miles, how fast can Samantha ride her bike?
Seera
Speed=distance ÷ time
Tremayne
x-3y =1; 3x-2y+4=0 graph
Brandon has a cup of quarters and dimes with a total of 5.55\$. The number of quarters is five less than three times the number of dimes
app is wrong how can 350 be divisible by 3.
June needs 48 gallons of punch for a party and has two different coolers to carry it in. The bigger cooler is five times as large as the smaller cooler. How many gallons can each cooler hold?
Susanna if the first cooler holds five times the gallons then the other cooler. The big cooler holda 40 gallons and the 2nd will hold 8 gallons is that correct?
Georgie
@Susanna that person is correct if you divide 40 by 8 you can see it's 5 it's simple
Ashley
@Geogie my bad that was meant for u
Ashley
Hi everyone, I'm glad to be connected with you all. from France.
I'm getting "math processing error" on math problems. Anyone know why?
Can you all help me I don't get any of this
4^×=9
Did anyone else have trouble getting in quiz link for linear inequalities?
operation of trinomial