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Ch. 1 - Equations and Inequalities
Blitzer - College Algebra 8th Edition
Blitzer8th EditionCollege AlgebraISBN: 9780136970514Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 2, Problem 1

Graph each equation in Exercises 1–4. Let x= -3, -2. -1, 0, 1, 2 and 3. y = 2x-2

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1
Step 1: Understand the equation y = 2x - 2. This is a linear equation in slope-intercept form, y = mx + b, where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept.
Step 2: Create a table of values for x and y. Use the given x-values (-3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3). For each x-value, substitute it into the equation y = 2x - 2 to calculate the corresponding y-value.
Step 3: For example, when x = -3, substitute into the equation: y = 2(-3) - 2. Similarly, calculate y for all other x-values (-2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3).
Step 4: Once you have the table of x and y values, plot these points on a coordinate plane. Each pair (x, y) represents a point on the graph.
Step 5: Draw a straight line through the plotted points, as the equation represents a linear function. Ensure the line extends in both directions and label the graph appropriately.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Linear Equations

A linear equation is an algebraic expression that represents a straight line when graphed on a coordinate plane. It typically takes the form y = mx + b, where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept. Understanding linear equations is essential for graphing, as it allows students to identify how changes in x affect y.
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Slope and Y-Intercept

The slope of a linear equation indicates the steepness and direction of the line, calculated as the change in y over the change in x (rise/run). The y-intercept is the point where the line crosses the y-axis, representing the value of y when x is zero. In the equation y = 2x - 2, the slope is 2 and the y-intercept is -2, which are crucial for accurately plotting the graph.
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Graphing Points

Graphing points involves plotting specific (x, y) coordinates on a Cartesian plane. For the equation y = 2x - 2, students will substitute the given x-values (-3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3) to find corresponding y-values. This process helps visualize the relationship between x and y, forming the linear graph of the equation.
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