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2.2 Graphs of linear functions  (Page 2/15)

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Graph f ( x ) = − 3 4 x + 6 by plotting points.

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Graphing a function using y- Intercept and slope

Another way to graph linear functions is by using specific characteristics of the function rather than plotting points. The first characteristic is its y- intercept, which is the point at which the input value is zero. To find the y- intercept , we can set x = 0 in the equation.

The other characteristic of the linear function is its slope m , which is a measure of its steepness. Recall that the slope is the rate of change of the function. The slope of a function is equal to the ratio of the change in outputs to the change in inputs. Another way to think about the slope is by dividing the vertical difference, or rise, by the horizontal difference, or run. We encountered both the y- intercept and the slope in Linear Functions .

Let’s consider the following function.

f ( x ) = 1 2 x + 1

The slope is 1 2 . Because the slope is positive, we know the graph will slant upward from left to right. The y- intercept is the point on the graph when x = 0. The graph crosses the y -axis at ( 0 , 1 ) . Now we know the slope and the y -intercept. We can begin graphing by plotting the point ( 0 , 1 ) We know that the slope is rise over run, m = rise run . From our example, we have m = 1 2 , which means that the rise is 1 and the run is 2. So starting from our y -intercept ( 0 , 1 ) , we can rise 1 and then run 2, or run 2 and then rise 1. We repeat until we have a few points, and then we draw a line through the points as shown in [link] .

Graphical interpretation of a linear function

In the equation f ( x ) = m x + b

  • b is the y -intercept of the graph and indicates the point ( 0 , b ) at which the graph crosses the y -axis.
  • m is the slope of the line and indicates the vertical displacement (rise) and horizontal displacement (run) between each successive pair of points. Recall the formula for the slope:
m = change in output (rise) change in input (run) = Δ y Δ x = y 2 − y 1 x 2 − x 1

Do all linear functions have y -intercepts?

Yes. All linear functions cross the y-axis and therefore have y-intercepts. (Note: A vertical line parallel to the y-axis does not have a y-intercept, but it is not a function. )

Given the equation for a linear function, graph the function using the y -intercept and slope.

  1. Evaluate the function at an input value of zero to find the y- intercept.
  2. Identify the slope as the rate of change of the input value.
  3. Plot the point represented by the y- intercept.
  4. Use rise run to determine at least two more points on the line.
  5. Sketch the line that passes through the points.

Graphing by using the y- Intercept and slope

Graph f ( x ) = − 2 3 x + 5 using the y- intercept and slope.

Evaluate the function at x = 0 to find the y- intercept. The output value when x = 0 is 5, so the graph will cross the y -axis at ( 0 , 5 ) .

According to the equation for the function, the slope of the line is − 2 3 . This tells us that for each vertical decrease in the “rise” of – 2 units, the “run” increases by 3 units in the horizontal direction. We can now graph the function by first plotting the y -intercept on the graph in [link] . From the initial value ( 0 , 5 ) we move down 2 units and to the right 3 units. We can extend the line to the left and right by repeating, and then draw a line through the points.

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Source:  OpenStax, Precalculus. OpenStax CNX. Jan 19, 2016 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11667/1.6
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