Solve each system by graphing.
3x - 2y = 6
6x + 2y = -12
Let's graph the first line by finding two points:
Let the x coordinate of the point be 0, since 0
is the easiest number to substitute in any equation:
So substituting 0 for x in
3x - 2y = 6
3(0) - 2y = 6
0 - 2y = 6
-2y = 6
y = 6/(-2)
y = -3
So one point, the y-intercept is (0, -3)
Now let the y coordinate of a point be 0, since 0
is the easiest number to substitute in any equation:
So substituting 0 for y in
3x - 2y = 6
3x - 2(0) = 6
3x = 6
x = 6/3
x = 2
So another point, the x-intercept, is (2, 0)
Plot those points and draw a line through them:
6x + 2y = -12
Now let's graph the second line the same way, by
finding two points:
Let the x coordinate of the point be 0, since 0
is the easiest number to substitute in any equation:
So substituting 0 for x in
6x + 2y = -12
6(0) + 2y = -12
0 + 2y = -12
2y = -12
y = -12/2
y = -6
So one point, the y-intercept is (0, -6)
Now let the y coordinate of a point be 0, since 0
is the easiest number to substitute in any equation:
So substituting 0 for y in
6x + 2y = -12
6x + 2(0) = -12
6x = -12
x = -12/6
x = -2
So another point, the x-intercept, is (-2, 0)
Plot those points on the same set of axes as
the first line and draw a line through them:
Now draw a horizontal line through the point where
the two lines cross:
Now draw a vertical line through the point where
the two lines cross:
Notice that the horizontal line crosses the y-axis at -4, so the
y-coordinate of the solution is y = -4
The vertical line crosses the x-axis at a point between -1 and 0,
and we can estimate that to be about 2/3 of the way from 0 to -1,
so that would make the x-coordinate of the solution be x = -2/3.
Now we check to see if we have the correct answer, by substituting
in both original equations:
Substituting (x,y) = (-2/3,-4) in the first equation
3x - 2y = 6
3(-2/3) - 2(-4) = 6
-6/3 + 8 = 6
-2 + 8 = 6
6 = 6
That checks.
6x + 2y = -12
Substituting (x,y) = (-2/3,-4) in the second equation
6x + 2y = -12
6(-2/3) + 2(-4) = -12
-12/3 - 8 = -12
-4 - 8 = -12
-12 = -12
That checks, too. So the solution
(x,y) = (-2/3,-4)
is correct.
Edwin