Question

How do you solve `14= - 6x + 32` by graphing?

Answer 1

Graph the function `y=-6x+32`, and graph the function `y=14`. I got an intersection at `(3,14)`. The `x` value `(3)` is your solution.

Explanation:

This technique works with any equation of any degree (the largest exponent on the variable). For any polynomial equation (like `x^2-2x-1`, equal to zero, your solutions are your x-intercepts. Quite frankly, it doesn't matter what complexity your equation is. Just graph the left side and the right side, and wherever they intersect, the x-coordinate is the solution.

So to summarize: graph the left side and the right side of the equation as a function of `y`, and the places where they intersect are your solutions.