Algebra (Period 1)

LINEAR EQUATIONS: 7-3

What do they look like (what is not a linear equation?)


The variable is to the 1 power -> like x, or y, or a, or b


What is not a linear equation? the variable is not to the 1 power - like x², x³, etc, or 1/x (x-1)



Two ways to graph:


1) 3 points using a table (like Ch 7-2)


EXAMPLE: 2x - 3y = -6


x ❘ y


0 2


3 4


-3 0

So the 3 points of (0,2) (3,4) and (-3,0)



2) 2 points using the y and x intercepts (where the line intersects the y and x axis)


Standard form of a linear equation:

Ax + By = C
 where A, B and C should not be fractions


A should be positive (y will be positive or negative)


We won't be using this form to look at the slope of the line!


This is a good format for finding the x and y intercepts!



If it's in standard form, this way works great if both the x and y coefficients are factors of the constant on the other side of the equal sign.



EXAMPLE: 2x - 3y = -6


If x = 0, y = 2


If y = 0, x = -3



Special linear equations:


Ones that are parallel to either the x or the y axis:


Lines parallel to the y axis are vertical lines:


They end up as the form x = constant with no y variable in the equation at all!


EXAMPLE: x = 4 ends up as a vertical line at x = 4


Still don't get this???


Pick of few points with the x value of 4:
(4, 0) (4, 2) (4, -3)


Graph those and join them in a line.
 What do you get???


A vertical line!




Lines parallel to the x axis are horizontal lines:


They end up as the form y = constant with no x variable in the equation at all!


EXAMPLE: y = 4 ends up as a horizontal line at y = 4


Still don't get this???


Pick of few points with the y value of 4:
(0, 4) (2, 4) (-3, 4)


Graph those and join them in a line.
What do you get???


A horizontal line!