Solve each of the following systems by graphing. 2x - y = 4 2x - y = 6 Get two points on the first line. Plot them and draw a line through them. Get two points on the second line. Plot them and draw a line through them. Identify the coodinates of the point where the two lines cross. Get two points on the first line whose equation is 2x - y = 4 Arbitrarily pick any convenient number to substitute for either letter. I think I will first choose 0 to substitute for x. I chose 0 simply because it is easy. I could have chosen any other number, and for either letter. So we substitute x = 0 2x - y = 4 2(0) - y = 4 0 - y = 4 -y = 4 -1y = 4 y =y = -4, so one point on the first line is (x, y) = (0,-4) Now for the second point on the first line, I think I will choose 0 to substitute for y. Again I chose 0 simply because it is easy. I could have chosen any other number, and for either letter. So we substitute y = 0 2x - y = 4 2x -(0) = 4 2x = 4 x = x = 2, so another point on the first line is (x, y) = (2, 0) Plot the two points (0, -4) and (2, 0): Draw a straight line through them: Get two points on the second line, whose equation is 2x - y = 6 Arbitrarily pick any convenient number to substitute for either letter. I will again first choose 0 to substitute for x. Again I chose 0 simply because it is easy. I could have chosen any other number, and for either letter. So we substitute x = 0 2x - y = 6 2(0) - y = 6 -y = 6 y = y = -6, so another point on the second line is (x, y) = (0, -6) Now for the second point on the second line, I will again choose 0 to substitute for y. Again I chose 0 simply because it is easy. I could have chosen any other number, and for either letter. So we substitute y = 0 2x - y = 6 2x -(0) = 6 2x = 6 x = x = 3, so another point on the first line is (x, y) = (3, 0) Plot the two points (0, -4) and (3, 0): so another point on the second line is (x, y) = (4, 0) Plot the two points (0, -6) and (3, 0): Draw a straight line through them: Oh,oh! These two lines are parallel and therefore they do not intersect, so there is no solution. This type of system is called "inconsistent". Edwin