Chapter 1

Linear Equations and Graphs

Section 2
Graphs and Lines
The Cartesian Coordinate System

 The Cartesian coordinate system was named after René Descartes. It

consists of two real number lines, the horizontal axis (x-axis) and the
vertical axis (y-axis) which meet in a right angle at a point called the
origin. The two number lines divide the plane into four areas called
quadrants.
 The quadrants are numbered using Roman numerals as shown on the
next slide. Each point in the plane corresponds to one and only one
ordered pair of numbers (x,y). Two ordered pairs are shown.

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The Cartesian Coordinate System
(continued)

Two points, (–1,–1)

II I (3,1) and (3,1), are plotted.
Four quadrants are as
x labeled.

(–1,–1)
III IV

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Linear Equations in Two Variables

 A linear equation in two variables is an equation that can

be written in the standard form Ax + By = C, where A, B,
and C are constants (A and B not both 0), and x and y are
variables.
 A solution of an equation in two variables is an ordered
pair of real numbers that satisfy the equation. For example,
(4,3) is a solution of 3x - 2y = 6.
 The solution set of an equation in two variables is the set
of all solutions of the equation.
 The graph of an equation is the graph of its solution set.

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 Linear Equations in Two Variables
(continued)

 If A is not equal to zero and B is not equal to zero, then

Ax + By = C can be written as
A C
This is known as y = - x + = mx + b
slope-intercept form. B B

 If A = 0 and B is not equal to zero, C

y=
then the graph is a horizontal line B

 If A is not equal to zero and B = 0, C

x=
then the graph is a vertical line A

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Using Intercepts to Graph a Line

Graph 2x – 6y = 12.

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Using Intercepts to Graph a Line

Graph 2x – 6y = 12.

x y
0 –2 y-intercept
6 0 x-intercept
3 –1 check point

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 Using a Graphing Calculator
Graph 2x – 6y = 12 on a graphing calculator and find the intercepts.

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 Using a Graphing Calculator
Graph 2x – 6y = 12 on a graphing calculator and find the intercepts.
Solution: First, we solve the equation for y.
2x – 6y = 12 Subtract 2x from each side.
–6y = –2x + 12 Divide both sides by –6
y = (1/3)x – 2
Now we enter the right side of this equation in a calculator, enter
values for the window variables, and graph the line.

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 Special Cases

 The graph of x = k is the graph of a vertical line k units from

the y-axis.
 The graph of y = k is the graph of the horizontal line k units
from the x-axis.
 Examples:
1. Graph x = –7
2. Graph y = 3

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 Solutions
x = –7

y=4

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 Slope of a Line

y2 - y1 rise
 Slope of a line: m= =
x2 - x1 run

o
( x1 , y1 )

rise

o ( x2 , y2 )
run

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 Slope-Intercept Form

The equation
y = mx+b

is called the slope-intercept form of an equation of a line.

The letter m represents the slope and b represents the

y-intercept.

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 Find the Slope and Intercept
from the Equation of a Line

Example: Find the slope and y intercept of the line

whose equation is 5x – 2y = 10.

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 Find the Slope and Intercept
from the Equation of a Line

Example: Find the slope and y intercept of the line

whose equation is 5x – 2y = 10.

Solution: Solve the equation

for y in terms of x. Identify the
5 x - 2 y = 10
coefficient of x as the slope -2 y = -5 x + 10
and the y intercept as the -5 x 10 5
constant term. y= + = x-5
-2 -2 2
Therefore: the slope is 5/2 and
the y intercept is –5.

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 Point-Slope Form

The point-slope form of the equation of a line is

y - y1 = m( x - x1 )
where m is the slope and (x1, y1) is a given point.
It is derived from the definition of the slope of a line:

y2 - y1 Cross-multiply and
=m substitute the more
x2 - x1 general x for x2

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 Example
Find the equation of the line through the points (–5, 7) and (4, 16).

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 Example
Find the equation of the line through the points (–5, 7) and (4, 16).
Solution:
16 - 7 9
m= = =1
4 - (-5) 9
Now use the point-slope form with m = 1 and (x1, x2) = (4, 16).
(We could just as well have used (–5, 7)).
y - 16 = 1( x - 4)
y = x - 4 + 16 = x + 12

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 Application
Office equipment was purchased for $20,000 and will have a
scrap value of $2,000 after 10 years. If its value is depreciated
linearly, find the linear equation that relates value (V) in dollars
to time (t) in years:

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 Application
Office equipment was purchased for $20,000 and will have a
scrap value of $2,000 after 10 years. If its value is depreciated
linearly, find the linear equation that relates value (V) in dollars
to time (t) in years:
Solution: When t = 0, V = 20,000 and when t = 10, V = 2,000.
Thus, we have two ordered pairs (0, 20,000) and (10, 2000).
We find the slope of the line using the slope formula.
The y intercept is already known (when t = 0, V = 20,000, so
the y intercept is 20,000).
The slope is (2000 – 20,000)/(10 – 0) = –1,800.
Therefore, our equation is V(t) = –1,800t + 20,000.

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 Supply and Demand

 In a free competitive market, the price of a product is

determined by the relationship between supply and
demand. The price tends to stabilize at the point of
intersection of the demand and supply equations.
 This point of intersection is called the equilibrium point.
 The corresponding price is called the equilibrium price.
 The common value of supply and demand is called the
equilibrium quantity.

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 Supply and Demand
Example

Use the barley market data in the following table to find:

(a) A linear supply equation of the form p = mx + b
(b) A linear demand equation of the form p = mx + b
(c) The equilibrium point.
Year Supply Demand Price
Mil bu Mil bu $/bu
2002 340 270 2.22

2003 370 250 2.72

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 Supply and Demand
Example (continued)

(a) To find a supply equation in the form p = mx + b, we must

first find two points of the form (x, p) on the supply line.
From the table, (340, 2.22) and (370, 2.72) are two such
points. The slope of the line is
2.72 - 2.22 0.5
m= = = 0.0167
370 - 340 30
Now use the point-slope form to find the equation of the line:
p – p1 = m(x – x1)
p – 2.22 = 0.0167(x – 340)
p – 2.22 = 0.0167x – 5.678
p = 0.0167x – 3.458 Price-supply equation.
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 Supply and Demand
Example (continued)

(b) From the table, (270, 2.22) and (250, 2.72) are two points
on the demand equation. The slope is
2.72 - 2.22 .5
m= = = -0.025
250 - 270 -20
p – p1 = m(x – x1)
p – 2.22 = –0.025(x – 270)
p – 2.22 = –0.025x + 6.75
p = –0.025x + 8.97 Price-demand equation

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 Supply and Demand
Example (continued)

(c) If we graph the two equations on a graphing

calculator, set the window as shown, then use the
intersect operation, we obtain:

The equilibrium point is approximately (298, 1.52).

This means that the common value of supply and
demand is 298 million bushels when the price is $1.52.
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