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such as equations. For example, the above figure is a graph (i.e., a picture) of equation Y
= X + 1, which is a straight line.
Co-ordinates: To find the co-ordinates of a graph the axis have to be identified. The
vertical axis is known as the 'y' axis, and the horizontal axis is known as the 'x' axis. The
position of a point on a graph is defined by its 'x' co-ordinate first, and its 'y' co-ordinate
second. The point A is at x = 3, and y = 2, or A(3,2). When there are more than one point
on a graph they are connected by a straight line or a curved line.
In this overview, we will start with graphing straight lines, and then progress to other
graphs. The only major difference, really, is in how many points you need to plot in order
to draw a good graph. But those increased numbers of points will vary with the
"interesting" issues related to the various types of graphs.
Before we get started, though, let me say this: You should do NEAT graphs, which means
that you should be using a ruler. If you don't have a ruler, go get one. Now. It will help
immensely, and you can get major "brownie points" from your instructor. And, no, using
graph paper does NOT excuse you from using a ruler.
Suppose you have "y = 2x + 3". Since this has just "x", as opposed to "x2" or "1/x", this
graphs as just a plain straight line.
Then you will pick values for x, plug them into the equation, and solve for the
corresponding values of y. Don't forget to pick negatives for x; using only positive
numbers can be misleading later on, so it's a bad habit to get in to now. Also, try to plot at
least three points. It's just safer that way: if you mess up on one point, you'll know,
because it's dot won't line up with the others. This is what this looks like:
X Create a chart to hold x and y values from your line. The x-values may be any
Y values you wish.
-3/2 0
Substitute the x-values into the equation to determine the y-values.
-1 1 Plot the (x, y) coordinates to graph the line.
0 3
1 5
2 7
While charts often contain more than 2 entries, only two entries are needed to determine a
straight line. A third point should be used to "check" that an error was not made while
computing the first two points.
Graph of Y = 2X + 3
Horizontal Line Vertical Line
Homework I: Consider the graph at the right containing three lines. Which of the
following equations matches the lines A, B, and C?
1. y = 4 + (1/3) x
2. y=6
3. y = -1/3 + 4 x
4. y=x+6
5. y = 4 - (1/3) x
6. y = (3/2)x + 2
Homework II: Consider the graph containing two lines, which of the following
equations matches the lines A and B.
1. y=4-2x
2. y = (2/3)x + 14
3. y = 1/2 x + 4
4. y=4+2x
5. y = 14 - (3/2) x
6. y = 14 - (2/3) x
A. Sketch the straight line obtained by replacing the inequality with equality.
B. Choose a test point not on the line ((0,0) is a good choice if the line does not pass
through the origin, and if the line does pass through the origin a point on one of the axes
would be a good choice).
C. If the test point satisfies the inequality, then the set of solutions is the entire region on
the same side of the line as the test point. Otherwise it is the region on the other side of
the line. In either case, shade out the side that does not contain the solutions, leaving the
solution region showing.
Example
Next, choose the origin (0, 0) as the test point (since it is not on the line). Substituting
x=0, y=0 in the inequality gives
3(0) 4(0) ≤ 12.
Since this is a true statement, (0, 0) is in the solution set, so the solution set consists of all
points on the same side as (0, 0). This region is left unshaded, while the (grey) shaded
region is blocked out.
Graphing Lines: Take for example the line 2 x – 3 y – 6 = 0. Now let us draw this line
using our Coordinate Geometry. Remember from our high school that we often find
where the line cuts the X and Y axes. To do this let x = 0 and y = 0 respectively. We can
find and plot 2 points on the line, they are (0, 2) and (3, 0).
All the points on the above line are represented by the equation 2 x -3 y – 6 = 0.
Example
The feasible region for the following collection of inequalities is the unshaded region
shown below (including its boundary).
3x 4y ≤ 12, x + 2y ≥ 4, x ≥ 1, y ≥ 0.
X1 + X2 + X3 10
3X1 + X3 24
X1, X2, and X3 0.
X1 = 8 X1 = 8 X1 = 0 X1 = 0 X1 = 7 X1 = 0
X2 = 0 X2 = 2 X2 = 10 X2 = 0 X2 = 0 X2 = 0
X3 = 0 X3 = 0 X3 = 0 X3 = 10 X3 = 3 X3 = 0