SOLUTION: How do you solve the systems of linear equations using the graphing method? I understand the elimination method and etc., but I do not get how to solve using the graphing method.

Algebra ->  Coordinate Systems and Linear Equations -> SOLUTION: How do you solve the systems of linear equations using the graphing method? I understand the elimination method and etc., but I do not get how to solve using the graphing method.       Log On


   



Question 201739: How do you solve the systems of linear equations using the graphing method?
I understand the elimination method and etc., but I do not get how to solve using the graphing method.
I know that the first step is putting it in slope-intercept form, but the graphing part I am having trouble with. How do you graph it exactly? Is there a specific way to plot points?
For example, how do you solve for this:
4x+2y=8
y=-2x+6
So far I tried doing it, and I've gotten the answer (3,2) but I did it again and there was no solution because it was parrallel.

Found 2 solutions by stanbon, jim_thompson5910:
Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
4x+2y=8
y=-2x+6
----------------
Plot two points for each equation:
For 4x + 2y = 8
Let x = 0, then y = 4 giving you point (0,4)
Let x = 1, then y = 2 giving you point (1,2)
Plot those two points and draw a line thru them to get:
graph%28400%2C300%2C-10%2C10%2C-10%2C10%2C-2x%2B4%29
------------------------------------
For y = -2x + 6
Let x = 0, then y = 6 giving you point (0,6)
Let x = 1, then y = 4 giving you point (1,4)
Plot those two points and draw a line thru them to get:
graph%28400%2C300%2C-10%2C10%2C-10%2C10%2C-2x%2B6%29
-----------------
Estimate the point of intersection as best you can.
Check it in the two equations.
=========================================
Ans: There is no intersection as the two lines have the
same slope and have different y-intercepts.
=========================================
Cheers,
Stan H.

Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Step 1: Graph 4x%2B2y=8




4x%2B2y=8 Start with the given equation.


2y=8-4x Subtract 4x from both sides.


2y=-4x%2B8 Rearrange the terms.


y=%28-4x%2B8%29%2F%282%29 Divide both sides by 2 to isolate y.


y=%28%28-4%29%2F%282%29%29x%2B%288%29%2F%282%29 Break up the fraction.


y=-2x%2B4 Reduce.




Looking at y=-2x%2B4 we can see that the equation is in slope-intercept form y=mx%2Bb where the slope is m=-2 and the y-intercept is b=4


Since b=4 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 -2, this means:

rise%2Frun=-2%2F1


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



So starting at , go down 2 units


and to the right 1 unit to get to the next point



Now draw a line through these points to graph y=-2x%2B4

So this is the graph of y=-2x%2B4 (which is also 4x%2B2y=8) through the points and


------------------------------------------------------------


Step 2: Graph y=-2x%2B6


Looking at y=-2x%2B6 we can see that the equation is in slope-intercept form y=mx%2Bb where the slope is m=-2 and the y-intercept is b=6


Since b=6 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 -2, this means:

rise%2Frun=-2%2F1


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



So starting at , go down 2 units


and to the right 1 unit to get to the next point



Now draw a line through these points to graph y=-2x%2B6

So this is the graph of y=-2x%2B6 through the points and


------------------------------------------------------------


Step 3: Graph the two equations together on the same coordinate plane




Graph of 4x%2B2y=8 (red) and y=-2x%2B6 (green).


From the graph, we can see that the two lines are parallel and will NEVER cross.


So this means that there are no solutions.


So the system is inconsistent.