Where we’ve been…

 Today, we take our first step into Chapter 3: Linear

Functions – which is fundamentally at the of Algebra
 Before we take our first step, let’s go back and see
what objectives we accomplished in Chapter 2.

 In Chapter 2, we…
 Solved equations by using the 4 basic operations
 Solved one-step, two-step, and multi-step equations
 Used formulas to solve real world problems
Now, in Chapter 3, our objective will be to…

 1. Identify linear equations

 2. Identify x- and y- intercepts
 3. Graph linear equations using the x-
and y-intercepts or a table of values
with 4 domain values
 3.1 Graphing Linear Equations

Our objective:

To identify a linear equation in Standard

Form

To identify the X-intercept and Y-

intercept of a linear equation
 Identifying a Linear Equation
Ax + By = C or Ax – By = C
● The exponent of each variable is 1.
● The variables are added or subtracted.
● A or B can equal zero.
● A > 0 (cannot have a negative coefficient)
● Besides x and y, other commonly used variables
are m and n, a and b, and r and s.
● There are no radicals (sq. root symbols) in the equation.
● Every linear equation graphs as a line.
Examples of linear equations
2x + 4y =8 Equation is in Ax + By =C form

Rewrite with both variables

6y = 3 – x =3
on left side … x + 6y

x=1 

B =0 … x + 0 y =1

-2a + b = 5 Multiply both sides of the

equation by -1 … 2a – b = -5

4x  y
 7
3 Multiply both sides of the
equation by 3 … 4x –y =-21
 Examples of Nonlinear Equations
The following equations are NOT in the
standard form of Ax + By =C:

4x2 + y = 5 The exponent is 2

x4 There is a radical in the equation
xy + x = 5 Variables are multiplied
s/r + r = 3 Variables are divided (can’t have a
variable in the denominator)
 x and y -intercepts
● The x-intercept is the point where a line crosses
the x-axis.
The general form of the x-intercept is (x, 0).
The y-coordinate will always be zero.

● The y-intercept is the point where a line crosses

the y-axis.
The general form of the y-intercept is (0, y).
The x-coordinate will always be zero.
 Finding the x-intercept
● For the equation 2x + y = 6, we know that y
must equal 0. What must x equal?

● Plug in 0 for y and simplify.

2x + 0 = 6
2x = 6
x=3
● So (3, 0) is the x-intercept of the line.
 Finding the y-intercept
● For the equation 2x + y = 6, we know that x
must equal 0. What must y equal?

● Plug in 0 for x and simplify.

2(0) + y = 6
0+y=6
y=6
● So (0, 6) is the y-intercept of the line.
 To summarize….
● To find the x-intercept, plug in 0
for y.

● To find the y-intercept, plug in 0

for x.
 Find the x and y- intercepts
of x = 4y – 5
● x-intercept: ● y-intercept:
● Plug in y = 0 ● Plug in x = 0
x = 4y - 5 x = 4y - 5
x = 4(0) - 5 0 = 4y - 5
x=0-5 5 = 4y
5
x = -5 4
=y
● (-5, 0) is the 5
x-intercept ● (0, 4 )is the
y-intercept
 Find the x and y-intercepts
of g(x) = -3x – 1*
● x-intercept ● y-intercept
● Plug in y = 0 ● Plug in x = 0
g(x) = -3x - 1 g(x) = -3(0) - 1
0 = -3x - 1 g(x) = 0 - 1
1 = -3x g(x) = -1
1

=3x ● (0, -1) is the
1
● (  3 , 0) is the y-intercept
x-intercept
*g(x) is the same as y
Find the x and y-intercepts of
6x - 3y =-18
● x-intercept ● y-intercept
● Plug in y = 0 ● Plug in x = 0
6x - 3y = -18 6x -3y = -18
6x -3(0) = -18 6(0) -3y = -18
6x - 0 = -18 0 - 3y = -18
6x = -18 -3y = -18
x = -3 y=6
● (-3, 0) is the ● (0, 6) is the
x-intercept y-intercept
 Find the x and y-intercepts
of x = 3
● x-intercept ● y-intercept
● Plug in y = 0. ● A vertical line never
crosses the y-axis.
There is no y. Why?
● There is no y-intercept.
●x = 3 is a vertical line
so x always
equals 3.
● (3, 0) is the x-intercept.
x
 Find the x and y-intercepts
of y = -2
● x-intercept
● y-intercept

● Plug in y = 0.
y cannot = 0 because
y = -2.
● y = -2 is a horizontal
● y = -2 is a horizontal line
so y always equals -2.
● (0,-2) is the y-intercept.

line so it never crosses

the x-axis. x

●There is no x-intercept.
y