SOLUTION: I'm learning about graphing equations, I would like to know step by step on how to solve this problem: x-2y=1. Please & thank you.

Algebra ->  Graphs -> SOLUTION: I'm learning about graphing equations, I would like to know step by step on how to solve this problem: x-2y=1. Please & thank you.       Log On


   

Question 450164: I'm learning about graphing equations, I would like to know step by step on how to solve this problem: x-2y=1. Please & thank you.
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
x-2y=1 Start with the given equation.


-2y=1-x Subtract x from both sides.


-2y=-x%2B1 Rearrange the terms.


y=%28-x%2B1%29%2F%28-2%29 Divide both sides by -2 to isolate y.


y=%28%28-1%29%2F%28-2%29%29x%2B%281%29%2F%28-2%29 Break up the fraction.


y=%281%2F2%29x-1%2F2 Reduce.



Looking at y=%281%2F2%29x-1%2F2 we can see that the equation is in slope-intercept form y=mx%2Bb where the slope is m=1%2F2 and the y-intercept is b=-1%2F2


Since b=-1%2F2 this tells us that the y-intercept is .Remember the y-intercept is the point where the graph intersects with the y-axis

So we have one point




Now since the slope is comprised of the "rise" over the "run" this means
slope=rise%2Frun

Also, because the slope is 1%2F2, this means:

rise%2Frun=1%2F2


which shows us that the rise is 1 and the run is 2. This means that to go from point to point, we can go up 1 and over 2



So starting at , go up 1 unit


and to the right 2 units to get to the next point



Now draw a line through these points to graph y=%281%2F2%29x-1%2F2

So this is the graph of y=%281%2F2%29x-1%2F2 through the points and