Straight Line Graphs

Lesson Objectives
• To accurately plot data points on a graph
using the x-axis and y-axis.
Naming horizontal and vertical lines
y Starter
(x,y)
4 (3,4)
3

1 (3,1)
x
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
-1
-2 y = -2
-3

(-4,-2) (0,-2)
-4 (-4,-2)
(3,-5)
-5
x=3 Back to Main Page
 Now try these lines
y
(x,y)
4 (-2,4)
3

2 y=2
1 (-2,1)
x
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
-1
-2

-3

(-4,2) (0,2)
-4 (-4,2)
(-2,-5)
-5
x = -2 Back to Main Page
 See
(x,y) if you can name lines 1 to 5
y
x=1 x=5
4
x = -4
3

2
y=1
1 1
x
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
-1
-2

-3
y = -4
-4 4

-5
5 2 3 Back to Main Page
 The Table Method
We can use an equation of a line to plot a graph by
substituting values of x into it.
Example
y = 2x + 1
x=0 y = 2(0) +1 y=1
x 0 1 2 x=1 y = 2(1) +1 y=3

y 1 3 5 x=2 y = 2(2) +1 y=5

Now you just have to plot the points on to a graph!

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 The Table Method

x 0 1 2 4
3
y 1 3 5 2
1

-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
-1
-2
y = 2x + 1 -3
-4

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 The Table Method
Use the table method to plot the following lines:
1) y=x+3
2) y = 2x – 3 x 0 1 2
3) y=2–x
y
4) y = 3 – 2x

Click to reveal plotted lines

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 The Table Method

4
3
2
1

-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
-1
-2
-3 3
1 Click for further
-4 exercises
4
2 Back to Main Page
Further Exercise
Using the table method, plot the following graphs.

1) y = x + 2 7) y=1–x
2) y = x – 3 8) y = 1 – 2x
3) y = 2x + 4 2

4) y = 2x – 3 9) y = 2 – 3x
5) y = 3x + 1 10) y=x+1
6) y = 3x – 2 2

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 The x = 0, y = 0 Method
This method is used when x and y are on the same side.
Example: x + 2y = 4
To draw a straight line we only need 2 points to join
together.

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If we find the 2 points where the graph cuts the
axes then we can plot the line.

These points are where x = 0 (anywhere along the y

axis) and y = 0 (anywhere along the x axis).

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 y
8
7
6
5
This is where the graph 4
cuts the x – axis (y=0)
3 This is where the graph
2 cuts the y – axis (x=0)

-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
x
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
-
5
-
6

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By substituting these values into the equation we
can find the other half of the co-ordinates.

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Example
Question: Draw the graph of 2x + y = 4

Solution
x=0 y=0
2(0) + y = 4 2x + 0 = 4
y=4 2x = 4
x=2

1st Co-ordinate = (0,4) 2nd Co-ordinate = (2,0)

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So the graph will look like this.
y
8
2x + y = 4 7
6
5
4
3
2
1

–
7 –6 5 –4 –3
–
2 –1
– 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
x
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
-
5
-
6 Back to Main Page
 Exercise
Plot the following graphs using the x=0, y=0 method.
1) x+y=5
2) x + 2y = 2
3) 2x + 3y = 6
4) x + 3y = 3

Click to reveal plotted lines

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 y
Answers 8
7
6
5
4
1. 3x + 2y = 6
3
2. x + 2y = 2 2
1
3. 2x + 3y = 6
7 –6
–
5 –4 –3
–
2 –1
– 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
x
4. x - 3y = 3 -
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
Click for further -
5
-
6
exercises
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Exercise
Using the x = 0, y = 0 method plot the following graphs:

1) x+y=4 6) x–y=3
2) 2x + y = 2 7) 2x – y = 2
3) x + 2y = 2 8) 2x – 3y = 6
4) x + 3y = 6 9) x + 2y = 1
5) 2x + 5y = 10 10) 2x – y = 3

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 What are the Co-ordinates of these points?
5
Plenary (x,y)
4

-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
-1

-2

-3

-4

-5

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