Hi, there--

Question:
How do I graph y = -4x?

Solution:

Remember that you can represent an equation as a table and as a graph. I would start by build a table of ordered pair that make the equation true. For example,

When x is 0, y is -4*0 = 0. So, the ordered pair (0,0) is part of the graph.
When x is 1, y is -4*1 = -4. So, the ordered pair (1, -4) is part of the graph.
When x is -2, y is -4*-2 = 8. So the ordered pair (-2, 8) is part of the graph.

Now we have a table that looks like this:
.


You can keep going like this for as long as you want, but usually 3 of 4 points will give you a sense of what's going on.

Now we graph those points on an x-y coordinate grid.




We see that these points are part of a straight line. We can connect the dots. Every ordered pair on the line makes the equation y=-4x TRUE. Every ordered pair off that line makes the equation FALSE.


If you have questions about the solution, feel free to email.

Mrs. Figgy
math.in.the.vortex@gmail.com