How do you graph #y= (1/2)x# by plotting points?

2 Answers
Nov 26, 2015

So if y=1/2x, then x=2y.

Explanation:

graph{1/2(x) [-10, 10, -5, 5]}

It's best to only plot whole numbers because then your line will be perfectly straight. If you plot 2 for x, then plug 2 into the equation: 2=2y. Then solve. y=1. So the first co-ordinate would be (2,1). Just continue that and you'll be good! And it works for any fraction. If your y= equation is already whole, then you're gucci!

Nov 26, 2015

Additional tip

Explanation:

Straight line graph is very straight forward.

Technically you could calculate just two pints and draw the line through them. This potentially has a problem. Suppose you made a mistake. It is much better to calculate three points. If they all do not line up then you have gone wrong somewhere.

#color(blue)("Table of points for plotting")#

Three points for #x# picked at random

Values for #x color(white)(...........)underline( 1 color(white)(.......) 5color(white)(.....) 10)#

Values of # y color(white)(.............) underline(1/2color(white)(.....) 2 1/2color(white)(.....) 5 ) # #<..................(y=1/2x)#

Now you plot each one against the other