Example 11.28 from Prealgebra, 11.3 Graphing with Intercepts

Graphing with Intercepts: example 11.28

Graph $y = 5 x$ using the intercepts.

Work it out on paper first. Then open the solution one step at a time, and stop as soon as you can finish on your own.

Solution

This line has only one intercept! It is the point $0$

To ensure accuracy, we need to plot three points. Since the intercepts are the same point, we need two more points to graph the line. As always, we can choose any values for $x,$ so we’ll let $x$ be $1$ and $−1 .$

Organize the points in a table.

$y = 5 x$

$x$ $y$ $(x, y)$

$0$ $0$ $(0, 0)$

$1$ $5$ $(1, 5)$

$−1$ $−5$ $(−1, −5)$

Plot the three points, check that they line up, and draw the line.

Your turn

The book's Try It right after this example: same idea, new numbers. Only the answer is given.

Graph using the intercepts: $y = 3 x .$

How did it go?