SOLUTION: Hi, We did linear equations last week in class, and now we've moved on to graphing, but I can't do my homework because I still don't understand the linear equations yet!

Question 52478: Hi,

We did linear equations last week in class, and now we've moved on to graphing, but I can't do my homework because I still don't understand the linear equations yet!

On the blackboard, our teacher explained that the answer to:

x + 2y = 0

is

y = -1/2x

If someone could explain how our teacher got to that answer, I'd REALLY appreciate it!!

Also, the book we're using said to just guess a number for x, and then figure out y... does that mean everyone will get a different answer?

Thanks,
~ Jasmine

Answer by checkley71(8403) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
X+2Y=0 OR 2Y=-X+0 OR Y=-X/2 OR Y=-(1/2)X
IF YOU PICK A VALUE FOR Y AND SOLVE FOR X THIS WILL GIVE YOU A POINT ON THE LINE. THERE ARE MANY POINTS ON THE LINE THEREFORE MANY DIFFERENT VALUES FOR X7Y
EXAMPLE LET Y=10 THEN 10=-(1/2)X OR OR DIVIDING BOTH SIDES BY -1/2 WE GET
10/-.5=X OR -20=X THUS THIS POINT IS (-20,10)
LET X=4 AND WE GET Y=-(1/2)4 OR Y=-.5*4 OR Y=-2 THUS THIS POINT IS (4,-2)
HOPE THIS HELPS
RELATED QUESTIONS
hi my name is audrey birch and i attend finney town high school. i just started going... (answered by josmiceli)

I am taking college algebra, we are in the 1st week of class and have not covered how to... (answered by Alan3354)

Hi. I am in 7th grade advanced math and I have questions about my homework but my teacher (answered by Alan3354)

I've had a problem with math since 5th grade and just last yeat in 8th grade I've... (answered by askmemath)

In my college class right now we are learning about polynomials, trinomials, and so on. I (answered by jim_thompson5910)

Graph the function y=absolute value of x + 2 by translating y=absolute value of x.... (answered by josgarithmetic)

Well in class we are using matrices to solve equations but in order to solve my last... (answered by Alan3354)

Well in class we are using matrices to solve equations but in order to solve my last... (answered by stanbon)

From a group of 65 students who failed Business Mathematics in 2010 we found the... (answered by JBnovelwriter)