BCM ARYA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, SHASTRI NAGAR, LUDHIANA

MATHEMATICS WORKSHEET
LINEAR EQUATIONS, GRAPHS and GRADIENT

Introduction to Linear Equations

A linear equation is an equation that describes a straight line on a graph. You can remember this by the "line" part of the
name linear equation.
Standard Form
Linear equations have a standard form that looks like this: Ax + By = C Where A, B, and C are coefficients (numbers)
while x and y are variables.
For example
2x + 3y = 7, x + 7y = 12, 3x - y = 1
A linear equation in two variables describes a relationship in which the value of one of the variables depends on the
value of the other variable. In a linear equation in x and y, x is called x is the independent variable and y depends on it.
We call y the dependent variable.
The word Linear simply means straight, so if you have a linear graph it is a straight line graphed by the equation
y= mx +b where m is the slope and b is the y intercept(the point where the line crosses the y-axis).
Linear Equations Represent Lines
At first it may seem strange that an equation represents a line on a graph. To make a line you need two points. Then you
can draw a line through those two points.
The x and y variables in the linear equation represent the x and y coordinates on a graph. If you plug in a number for x,
you can calculate the corresponding number for y. Those two numbers show a point on a graph. If you keep plugging in
numbers for x and y in a linear equation, you will find that all the points together make a straight line.
Graph
Graph is a mathematical representation of a network and it describes the relationship between lines and points.
A graph consists of some points and lines between them. The length of the lines and position of the points do
not matter. Each object in a graph is called a node.
Importance of graphs
Graphs are a common method to visually illustrate relationships in the data. The purpose of a graph is to
present data that are too numerous or complicated to be described adequately in the text and in less space.
Use of linear graphs in real life
Graphs can be used in real life in many ways. The use of a graph will present data in a quick way, lift out the
most important facts and will be easily remembered. ... For those in a computer field, as in networking,
the use of graphs can be very useful to measure trafficking to a site. Graphs are used in everyday life, from the
local newspaper to the magazine stand. Many people use linear equations every day, even if they do the
calculations in their head without drawing a line graph.
1. Variable Costs. Imagine that you are taking a taxi while on vacation. ...
2. Rates. Linear equations can be a useful tool for comparing rates of pay. ...
3. Budgeting. ...
4. Making Predictions.
5. A line graph in the form of a straight line signifies a linear relationship between two quantities represented on
x-axis and y axis.
How do you solve linear graphs?
To graph a linear equation, we can use the slope and y-intercept.
Step #1: Put the y-intercept on the coordinate system.
Step #2: Starting from the y-intercept, use the slope to locate one more point on thecoordinate system.
Step #3: Draw a line between the y-intercept and the other point.
Graphing a Linear Equation
In order to graph a linear equation you can put in numbers for x and y into the equation and plot the points on a graph.
One way to do this is to use the "intercept" points. The intercept points are when x = 0 or y = 0. Here are some steps to
follow:
  Plug x = 0 into the equation and solve for y
 Plot the point (0,y) on the y-axis
 Plug y = 0 into the equation and solve for x
 Plot the point (x,0) on the x-axis
 Draw a straight line between the two points
Why is a graph linear?
That makes this a linear function—a function is linear if its graph forms a straight line. The line is straight
because the variables change at a constant rate. That is another characteristic of linear functions—they have a
constant rate of change.
3 ways to graph a linear equation
There are three basic methods of graphing linear functions.
 The first is by plotting points and then drawing a line through the points.
 The second is by using the y-intercept and slope.
 The third is applying transformations to the identity function f(x)=x f ( x ) = x
Example Problem 1 :Graph the linear equation: 2x + y = 2
Step 1: Plug in x = 0 and solve for y.
2 (0) + y = 2
y=2
Step 2: Plug in y = 0 and solve for x.
2x + 0 = 2
2x = 2
x=1
Step 3: Graph the x and y intercept points (0, 2) and (1,0)
Step 4: Draw a straight line through the two points

Step 5: Check the answer.

We will put in 2 for x and solve:
2(2) + y = 2
4+y=2
y=2-4
y=-2
answer is the point (2,-2) on the line.
Example problem 2: Graph the linear equation x - 2y = 2
Step 1: x = 0
0 - 2y = 2
y = -1
Step 2: y = 0
x - 2(0) = 2
x=2
Step 3: Graph the x and y points (0, -1) and (2,0)
 Step 4: Draw a line through the two points

Step 5: Check your answer

Let's try x = 4
4 - 2y = 2
-2y = 2 - 4
-2y = -2
2y = 2
y=1
answer is the point (4,1) on the graph.

Simultaneous Equations: This is a process which involves removing or eliminating one of the unknowns to leave a
single equation which involves the other unknown.

Methods of solving simultaneous equations

 Elimination Method.
 Graphical Method.
 Substitution Method.
The Elimination Method
1. Multiply each equation by a suitable number so that the two equations have the same leading coefficient.
2. Subtract the second equation from the first.
3. Solve this new equation for y.
4. Substitute the value of y into either Equation 1 or Equation 2 above and solve for x.
The Substitution Method:
1. Move the variables to different sides of the equation.
2. Divide both sides of the equation to "solve for x."
3. Plug this back into the other equation.
4. Solve for the remaining variable.
5. Use the answer to solve for the other variable.
6. Know what to do when both variables cancel out.
The graphical method
1. Write your 2 equations clearly. Write your 2 equations in an organised, clear way. ...
2. In the first equation, let x be 0.
3. Let y be 0.
4. Draw a graph with 4 quadrants.
5. In the second equation, let x be 0.
 6. Let y be 0.
7. Draw the line of the second equation on the same graph as before.
8. Look at the point in which the 2 lines meet.
Directly Proportion
Directly proportional: as one amount increases, another amount increases at the same rate.
The characteristics of a directly proportional relationship graph:
 Linear Function.
 Passes through the origin(root at [independent variable] = 0])
 Slope equal to ratio between y and x (y/x)
 General Function: y = kx where k is the constant of proportionality.
Straight line graphs that go through the origin, like the one immediately below, show that the quantities on
the graph are in direct proportion. It reads: A is directly proportional to B. It means: By whatever factor A changes,
B changes by the same factor.
Gradient of a straight line
Gradient is another word for "slope". The higher the gradient of a graph at a point, the steeper the line is at
that point. A negative gradient means that the line slopes downwards.
You are required to know how to calculate the gradient from two possible circumstances:
 You are given the line drawn on a graph;
 You are given two coordinates and told that a line passes through both of them.
These situations may seem distinct, but they aren’t really. They both come down to the same idea:
change in 𝑦
Gradient = change in 𝑥
Additionally, the gradient is also a rate of change, specifically a rate of change of y with respect x -- this is why we
divide the change in y by the change in x to calculate it.

In the positive gradient case, the y value increases as the x value decreases. In the negative gradient case,
the y value decreases as the x value increases. Here also, we can still use the triangle method seen above for
working out gradient, but if the line is sloped downwards then we’ll need to put a minus sign in front of your
answer.
Questions for practice
1. Calculate the gradient of the line drawn below.

2. Work out the gradient of the straight line that passes through (2,3) and (−10,6).
3. Calculate the gradient of the line drawn below.

4. Find the gradient of the line that passes through (-8, -1) and (2,-6).
5. The points (1,5) and (8,7) are on the same straight line. What is the gradient of the line?
6. The points (3,6) and (7, −2) are on the same straight line. What is the gradient of the line?
7. Points A (𝑥, 𝑦) and B are on the same straight line. The 𝑥-coordinate of B is three times the 𝑥-coordinate of A.
The y-coordinate of B is four times the y-coordinate of A. What is the gradient of the line in terms of 𝑥 and 𝑦?
8. A and B are two perpendicular lines with equations: 𝐴: 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥𝐵: 𝑦 = 𝑝𝑥 + 9 Calculate the gradients of A and B,
then write down the equations of both lines.
9. Give the equation of the straight line that passes through (0,0) with gradient 1.
10. Solve the simultaneous equations: 3x + 2y = 36 and 5 x + 4y = 64
11. Give that equation of the straight line with gradient 2 that passes through (1,4) and (2,6).
12. A straight line has a gradient of 2 and passes through the point (0,2). Write down another coordinate that the
line passes through).
13. A line passes through the points (0,-2) and (-1,-4) and crosses the y axis at -2. Find the equation of the straight
line.
14. A straight line passes through (0,0) and (2,8). Find the equation of the line.
 15. Plot the graph for y = 2x + 3 and y = 7x + 10
16. Show by drawing a graph that 5x – y = 2 is a straight line. Also draw the line 10x – 2y = 6. Check whether these
two lines are parallel or not.
17. The gradient of the line is 3. Write the equation of the line.
18. X and Y are directly proportional
X 3 8 14
Y 7.5 20 35
a) Find the equation of straight line in standard form
b) Use the graph to find the value of
(i) Y when x = 5
(ii) X when y = 23
1
19. x and y are inversely proportional as y = x
5
(i) plot a graph for -3 < x < 3
(ii) find the gradient of the graph
(iii) write down the equation of the graph in the form of y = mx + c
(iv) using the equation, find the value of y when x = 7
(v) using the equation, find the value of x when y = 33
20. Three people exchanged US dollars ($) for euros (€) in a bank. The table shows the exchange of amount.
$x 200 80 140
€y 150 60 105
a) Draw the graph showing this information with dollars on the x-axis and the euros on y-axis.
b) Find the gradient of the graph.
c) What does the gradient tell you?
21. The following estimate is received for printing copies of a wedding programme:
No. of couples 50 100 200 300
Cost in $ 11.50 12.50 14.50 16.50

a) Draw the graph of given data.

b) Find the equation giving the cost $y of x copies.
c) Estimate the cost of 325 copies.

COMPILED BY: Mrs. YASHITA JAIN