Question

How do you find an ordered pair (x,y) of 2x-7=y?

Answer 1

Choose a (random) value for `x`, then solve the equation to get the accompanying value for `y`. These values will be the coordinates of the ordered pair.

Explanation:

Since this is the equation of a straight line, there are no restrictions on what you could choose for a value of `x`. In "official" terms, we say the domain of the function is all real numbers.

Say you pick something simple like `x=1`. Now, insert this value, and the equation becomes

`2-7=y`

or `y=-5`

This means `(1,-5)` must be a point on the line, and it is also an ordered pair that satisfies the equation.