How do you graph using the intercepts for #5x-y=3#?

1 Answer
Nov 8, 2015

Set #y=0# and then #x=0# to find the x and y intercepts, respectively, and then draw a line through the two points.

Explanation:

The x-intercept of a graph is where it intersects the x-axis, that is, where #y=0#.
Setting #y=0# in this equation gives us

#5x - 0 = 3 => x = 3/5#

Thus the equation has the x-intercept #(3/5, 0)#

The y-intercept of a graph is where it intersects the y-axis, that is, where #x = 0#.
Setting #x = 0# in this equation gives us

#5(0) - y = 3 => y = -3#

Thus the equation has the y-intercept #(0, -3)#

As the equation is linear, only two points are needed in order to graph it. So, plot the intercepts found, and draw a line through them to create the graph:

graph{y = 5x-3 [-8.22, 8.24, -5.11, 3.12]}