How do you graph #y = -5x + 2 # using the slope and intercept?

1 Answer
Feb 15, 2017

#ul("Full explanation given using first principles.")#
The calculations become quite fast once you get used to them and start using shortcuts.

Explanation:

compare to the standardised form of #y=mx+c#

Where m is the gradient (slope)

This is the amount of up or down for a given amount along

The y-intercept is where #x=0# which is the value of #c#
The x-intercept is where #y=0#
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#color(blue)("Determine the gradient")#

Directly comparing #y=-5x+2# to the above we have:

Gradient (slope)#=m=-5#
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#color(blue)("Determine the y intercept")#

#y_("intercept") " is at " x=0 " "->y=-5(0)+2" "=" "2" "=" "c#

Full coordinate for #y_("intercept")->(x,y) = (0,2)#
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#color(blue)("Determine the x intercept")#

#x_("intercept")" is at "y=0#

#=>" "y=-5x+2" " ->" "color(green)( 0=-5x+2)#

Add #color(red)( 5x)# to both sides

#color(green)(0color(red)( +5x)=-5xcolor(red)( +5x)+2)#

#5x=0+2#

#color(green)(5x=2)#

Divide both sides by #color(red)(5)#

#color(green)(5/(color(red)(5))x=2/(color(red)(5)))#

#x_("intercept")=2/5#

Full coordinate for #x_("intercept")->(x,y) = (2/5,0)#

Tony B