SOLUTION: how do you find the equation of a line? How do you know whether something is greater than or equal to or greater than and equal? I get the open circle closed circle thing mixed up!

Algebra ->  Linear-equations -> SOLUTION: how do you find the equation of a line? How do you know whether something is greater than or equal to or greater than and equal? I get the open circle closed circle thing mixed up!      Log On


   

Question 39344: how do you find the equation of a line? How do you know whether something is greater than or equal to or greater than and equal? I get the open circle closed circle thing mixed up! Thanx much
Answer by Cintchr(481) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
here is an example ...
+x%3C=+5+
to graph this, draw a number line with 5 as the only number on it and in the middle of the line.
since this is a less than or equal to value the circle is closed.
make sure the x is on the left, and the arrow points in the direction of the greater than or less than symbol.
+number_line%28+600%2C+0%2C+10%2C+x%3C=5+%29+
The line then continues on to the left.


now ... for the equation of a line ....
+y=mx%2Bb+
this is for an xy-coordinate plane
x and y are the points that fall on the line.
m is the slope of the line
b is the + or - number that the line crosses on the y axis.
so the equation
+y=3x-2+
looks like this:
+graph%28+600%2C+400%2C+-5%2C+5%2C+-5%2C+5%2C+3x-2+%29+