Graphs, Linear Equations, and

Functions
The Rectangular Coordinate System
The Slope of a Line
Linear Equations in two variables
Introduction to Functions

The Rectangular Coordinate
System
Plotting ordered pairs.
An ordered pair of numbers
is a pair of numbers written
within parenthesis in which
the order of the numbers is
important.
The x-axis and the y-axis
make up a rectangular or
Cartesian coordinate
system.



Finding Intercepts:
In the equation of a line, let y = 0 to find the x-intercept and let x
= 0 to find the y-intercept.
Note: A linear equation with both x and y variables will have both
x- and y-intercepts.
Find the intercepts and draw the graph of 2x y = 4
x-intercept: Let y = 0 : 2x 0 = 4 2x = 4 x = 2
y-intercept: Let x = 0 : 2(0) y = 4 -y = 4 y = -4

x-intercept is (2,0)
y-intercept is (0,-4)

The Rectangular Coordinate System
Recognizing equations of vertical and
horizontal lines:
An equation with only the variable x will always intersect the x-axis
and thus will be vertical.
An equation with only the variable y will always intersect the y-axis
and thus will be horizontal.
A) Draw the graph of y = 3
B) Draw the graph of x + 2 = 0 ie x = -2

A) B)

The Rectangular Coordinate System
Finding the slope of a line given an equation of the line:
The slope can be found by solving the equation such that
y is solved for on the left side of the equal sign. This is
called the slope-intercept form of a line. The slope is
the coefficient of x and the other term is the y-intercept.
The slope-intercept form is y = mx + b

Find the slope of the line given 3x 4y = 12











3 4 12
4 3 12
3
3
4
x y
y x
y x
=
= +
=
3
The slope is
4

The Rectangular Coordinate System

The Slope of a Line
Using slope to determine whether two lines are parallel,
perpendicular, or neither:
Two non-vertical lines having the same slope are parallel.
Two non-vertical lines whose slopes are negative reciprocals are
perpendicular.
Is the line through (-1,2) and (3,5) parallel to the line through (4,7) and (8,10)?







1 2
For line 1: For line 2:
5 2 3 10 7 3

Y
3 (
ES
1) 4 8 4 4
m m

=

= = =

The Slope of a Line
Using slope to determine whether two lines are parallel,
perpendicular, or neither:
Two non-vertical lines having the same slope are parallel.
Two non-vertical lines whose slopes are negative reciprocals are perpendicular.
Are the lines 3x + 5y = 6 and 5x - 3y = 2 parallel, perpendicular, or neither?







For line 1: For line 2:
3 5 6 5 - 3 2
5 3 6 3 5 2
3 6 5 2
3 5
is the negative reciprocal of
5

3

5 5 3

3
x y x y
y x y x
y x
Perpendicula
y x
r
+ = =
= + = +
=

=
Slope of a Line
x
y
x
1

x
2

y
2

y
1


x
2
x
1

y
2
y
1

m =
rise
run
=
y
2
y
1
x
2
x
1

x
1
, y
1
( )

x
2
, y
2
( )
Slope of a Line

m =
rise
run
=
y
2
y
1
x
2
x
1
Definition of Slope
The slope of the line is its measure of
steepness. It measures the rate of
change of the line. In all lines the slope
is constant, it doesnt change no matter
where you are at on the line.
Intercepts
Where the graph crosses the x-axis is
the x-intercept. It has coordinates (a,0).

Where the graph crosses the y-axis is
the y-intercept. It has coordinates (0,b).


y
x
x-intercept
y-intercept
(a,0)
(0,b)
The x and y intercepts of a line
Example
Find the x and y intercepts of the line
given by:
y = 2x 6
Slope Intercept Form

y = mx + b
x
y

x 0

y b

x, y ( )
Any point on the line

m =
y b
x 0

m =
y b
x

mx = y b

0,b ( )
y-intercept
Point Slope Form

y y
1
= m x x
1
( )
x
y

x x
1

y y
1

x, y ( )
Any point on the line

m =
y y
1
x x
1

m x x
1
( ) = y y
1

x
1
, y
1
( )
Any fixed
point on the line
Linear Equations in Two Variables
Find an equation of a line with slope and a
given point (3,-4)

2
5
1 1
( )
2
( 4) ( 3)
5
2 6
4
5 5
2 6 20 2 26
5 5 5 5 5
5 2 26 or in standard form 2 5 26 y x
y y m x x
y x
y x
y x x
x y
=
=
+ =
= =
= =

Linear Equations in Two Variables

Suppose there is a flat rate of $.20 plus a
charge of $.10/minute to make a phone call.
Write an equation that gives the cost y for a
call of x minutes.
Note: The initial condition is the flat rate of
$.20 and the rate of change is $.10/minute.

Solution: y = .10x + .20
Linear Equations in Two Variables
Forms of Linear Equations
Equation Description When to Use
Y = mx + b
Slope-Intercept Form
slope is m
y-intercept is (0,b)
Given an equation, the slope
and y-intercept can be easily
identified and used to graph
y - y
1
= m(x-x
1
)
Point-Slope Form
slope is m
line passes through (x
1
,y
1
)
This form is ideal to use when
given the slope of a line and
one point on the line or given
two points on the line.
Ax + By = C
Standard Form
(A,B, and C are integers, A 0)
Slope is -(A/B)
x-intercept is (C/A,0)
y-intercept is (0,C/B)
X- and y-intercepts can be found
quickly
y = b
Horizontal line
slope is 0
y-intercept is (0,b)
Graph intersects only the y
axis, is parallel to the x-axis
x = a
Vertical line
slope is undefined
x-intercept is (a,0)
Graph intersects only the x
axis, is parallel to the y-axis
>
Other Dimensions
Lines in three dimensions
X,Y,Z planes
Lines in N dimensions
Relations, Functions
Domain and Range
The values that make up the set of
independent values are the domain
The values that make up the set of
dependent values are the range.

Domain Range
Correspondence
or
Relation
Definition of a Relation
A Relation maps a value from the
domain to the range. A Relation is a
set of ordered pairs.
The most common types of relations in
algebra map subsets of real numbers to
other subsets of real numbers.
Example
Domain Range
3
11 - 2
1.618 2.718
Definition of a Function
If a relation has the additional
characteristic that each element of the
domain is mapped to one and only one
element of the range then we call the
relation a Function.

Definition of a Function
If we think of the domain as the set of
boys and the range the set of girls, then
a function is a monogamous
relationship from the domain to the
range. Each boy gets to go out with one
and only one girl.
But It does not say anything about the
girls.
Each X has a single y, but each y can
have multiple xs

Functions
A function is a relation in which
the members of the domain (x-
values) DO NOT repeat.
So, for every x-value there is only
one y-value that corresponds to
it.
y-values can be repeated.
Functions
Discrete functions consist of points
that are not connected.
Continuous functions can be
graphed with a line or smooth curve
and contain an infinite number of
points.
Do the ordered pairs represent a
function?
{(3, 4), (7, 2), (0, -1), (-2, 2), (-5, 0), (3, 3)}
No, 3 is repeated in the domain.

{(4, 1), (5, 2), (8, 2), (9, 8)}
Yes, no x-coordinate is repeated.
x
DOMAIN
y
1

y
2

RANGE
R
NOT A FUNCTION
y
RANGE
f
FUNCTION
x
1

DOMAIN
x
2

Ways to Represent a Function
Symbolic

x, y ( )y = 2x
{ }
or
y = 2x
X Y
1 2
5 10
-1 -2
3 6
Graphical
Numeric
Verbal
The cost is twice
the original
amount.
Function Notation
The Symbolic Form
A truly excellent notation. It is concise
and useful.

y = f x ( )

y = f x ( )
Output Value
Member of the Range
Dependent Variable
These are all equivalent
names for the y.
Input Value
Member of the Domain
Independent Variable
These are all equivalent
names for the x.
Name of the
function
Examples of Function
Notation
The f notation



Find
f(2), g(-1), f(-0.983),

f x
( )
= 3x x
2
g x
( )
= x
2
4x +1
Graphical Representation
Graphical representation of functions
have the advantage of conveying lots of
information in a compact form. There
are many types and styles of graphs but
in algebra we concentrate on graphs in
the rectangular (Cartesian) coordinate
system.
Graphs and Functions
Domain
Range
Vertical Line Test for
Functions
If a vertical line intersects a graph once
and only once for each element of the
domain, then the graph is a function.
Functions and Relations
Function: a set or ordered pairs
with the property that for (x, y) any x
value uniquely determines a single y
value, e.g., curves or , e.g., mpp
or cost curves
Relation: ordered pairs with the
property that for (x, y) any x value
determines more than one value of
y e.g., curves c or ,

39
General Functions
Y = f (X)
Y is value or dependent variable
(w/ range, vertical axis)
f is the function or a rule for mapping X
into a unique Y
X is argument or the independent
variable
(w/ domain, horizontal axis)
40
Specific Functions
Algebraic functions
Y = a
0
(constant: fixed
costs)
Y = a
0
+ a
1
X (linear: S&D)
Y = a
0
+ a
1
X + a
2
X
2
(quadratic: prod.)
Y = a
0
+ a
1
X + a
2
X
2
+ a
3
X
3
(cubic: t. cost)
Y = a/X (hyperbolic: indiff.)
Y = aX
b
(power: prod. fn)

Transcendental functions (Ch. 10)
Y = a
X
(exponential:
interest)
lnY = ln(a) + b ln(X) (logarithmic: easier)

(Chiang & Wainwright, p. 22, Fig. 2.8)
41
Digression on exponents
Rules for exponents
X
n
= (X*X*X*...*X) n times

Rule I: X
m
* X
n
= X
m+n

Rule II:

Rule III: X
-n
=
Rule IV: X
0
= 1

Rule V: X
1/n
=
n
\x
Rule VI: (X
m
)
n
= X
mn
Rule VII: X
m
* Y
m
= (XY)
m
n m
n
m
X
X
X

=
1
X
n
42
Levels of generality
Specific function 1:
specific form and specific parameters
Y = 10 - .5X

Specific function 2:
specific form and general parameters
Y = a bX

General function:
general form and no parameters
Y = f(X)
f maps X into a unique value of Y
43
Big Deal!
A point is in the set of
ordered pairs that make up
the function if and only if
the point is on the graph of
the function.
Think
What is the range for a function x = b?
Is y = x
2
a function?
What about y = x
What is the slope of a line that is parallel to
the x-axis, and one that is parallel to the y
axis
Which of the two lines has a higher slope in
the diagram in the next slide




Line 1
Line 2
Y
X
0,0