5x + y = -1
Solve for y by adding -5x to both sides:
5x + y = -1
-5x -5x
--------------
y = -5x - 1
Compare to
y = mx + b
The slope is m = -5 and the line intercepts the y-axis at b = -1.
Plot the y-intercept on the y-axis at -1.
-5
Since the slope is -5, we write it as a fraction ————
1
From the y intercept we draw a vertical line the
number of units indicated by the numerator of the slope, which
is -5. Since it is negative we draw the vertical line DOWNWARD.
I'll draw it in green:
(when the slope is positive we draw the line UPWARD from the y-intercept.)
From the end of that line, we draw a horizontal line to the
right which is the number of units long indicated by the
denominator, which is 1. So we now have:
Fionally get a ruler and draw a line through the y-intercept and
the end of the horizontal green line:
That's the graph.
Edwin
