SOLUTION: How do I graph an equation such as y = 1/4x + -5 ? Do I simply graph the y intercept (0,-5) then start with the neg 5 go up 1 and over 4 ? Meaning that rise over run stuff? Ple

Algebra ->  Equations -> SOLUTION: How do I graph an equation such as y = 1/4x + -5 ? Do I simply graph the y intercept (0,-5) then start with the neg 5 go up 1 and over 4 ? Meaning that rise over run stuff? Ple      Log On


   

Question 143227: How do I graph an equation such as y = 1/4x + -5 ? Do I simply graph the y intercept (0,-5) then start with the neg 5 go up 1 and over 4 ? Meaning that rise over run stuff? Please advise.
Also, to find my 2nd set of coordinates do I let x= 0; solve for y - then y=0 solve for x ? Please advise. I'm stressin
Found 2 solutions by vleith, solver91311:
Answer by vleith(2983) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
No need to stress. You're getting it!
As far as finding a second point, setting x = 0 won't help since that is that the y intercept is. You need to get 'another point'.
Usually an easy second point is to set y = 0, then find x.
For this is would be y+=+%281%2F4%29x+%2B+-5+
0+=+%281%2F4%29x+%2B+-5+
5+=+%281%2F4%29x+
20+=+x
graph+%28600%2C+400%2C+-20%2C+20%2C+-20%2C+20%2C+x%2F4+-+5+%29+

Answer by solver91311(24713) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Yes, 'that rise over run stuff' will work just fine in this case. You can also select a different value for x (4 would work out quite neatly) and then calculate the resulting y. This would give you a second point, (4, whatever y turns out to be). Plot that point and then draw your line through the two points.

Letting x = 0, then solve for y (which is the same thing as examining the 'b' part of y=mx%2Bb, by the way) and then letting y = 0 and solving for x is a perfectly legitimate way to find two points that define a line. But there is no reason (other than simplification of the arithmetic) that you need to find the intercept points specifically. You can select any value you like for x and then solve for y. The only thing you need to remember is that you need to find 2 points somewhere to define a straight line.