Question

How do you graph `y=1/2x-1`?

Answer 1

Refer to the explanation.

Explanation:

Given:

`y=1/2x-1`

Find the y-intercept by substituting `0` for `x`.

`y=1/2(0)-1`

`y=-1`

The y-intercept is `(0,-1)`. Plot this point.

The slope `1/2` is the rise (change in `y`) over run (change in `x`). To choose the next point, start at the y-intercept and move up one space and to the right two. This will be point `(2,0)`. Plot this point.

You can also find a lower point by moving down one space from the y-intercept and to the left two. This will be point `(-2,-2)`. Plot this point.

You can keep adding points moving up one and down two to the right from each positive point and moving down one and two to the left from each negative point.

However, you only need two points to graph a straight line. Draw a straight line through the points.

graph{y=1/2x-1 [-10, 10, -5, 5]}