• Linear comes from the Linear

Latin word linearis,

which means “created
by lines”.

•If a graph is linear it

will form a straight.

•Linear expressions Non Linear

consist of only one (Quadratic)
variable, and no
exponents.

•Y=25X+104 ← Linear

• Y=4(3/5)ⁿ ← Non
Linear, because of the
variable as an exponent
Interpreting a graph, is just a fancy way of saying, “how do you read a
graph”. In other words what information does the graph tell us. Graphs
contain much more information than most people think . Lets take a
look at an example, to see how to interpret or read a graph. Click on
the picture to see the example.

The BIG
Book of
Graphs
 Since 1990 the price of Hockey tickets have been
increasing consistently. Let P represents the price of
the ticket and T represent years since 1990 ( so T=2
represents 1992 ). The price of tickets are displayed
on the graph below.

Since the price of tickets depends on the Our example is

year, we say the price(p) depends on the considered an
year(t). For the majority of graphs the increasing function
dependent variable will be matched with because the P value
the vertical axis, and the independent goes up as you move
variable matched with the horizontal axis. from left to right.
• A linear equation is an expression that makes a linear
graph. Duh! There is more to it than that though, so lets
look at the basic linear equation more in depth.

• Most Linear equations are in slope intercept form,

Y=mx+b

•Slope intercept form is the easiest linear equation to work

with and it provides us with a lot of valuable information
about our function. Click on each variable to find out more.

Y=Mx+B
The m value of our equation represents the slope of our line.
Now what in the world is slope? Slope refers to the rate of
incline or decline. It could also be said that slope is the relative
steepness of the line

For example, on a ski hill the slope of a black diamond is bound

to be greater than that of the bunny hill.

As you read a graph from left to right, the slope refers to the
change in the Y value over the change in the X value.
Consider the graph to the right and
the two points P1 and P2. The slope
of this line would be expressed as
M=Y2 -Y1 / X2 - X1
Click here for more practice with slope
M=Y2 - Y1 / X2 - X1 is a fancy way of saying that the
slope is equal to rise/run.

Now Its Your Turn

Assume that the

points (1,2) and (5,4)
are both on the same
line. What is the slope
of this line?

Click on the video

below for help

Click here for the

Answer
 M= Y2 - Y1 / X2 - X1 Equation for Slope
M=4 – 2 / 5 -1 = 2 / 4
Inserting (1,2) and (5,4)
M= 1/ 2
Simplify
This means that for every
one value of Y you
increase, you go right two
X values.

M=1/2 is an Increasing slope, a slope that is

a negative number is said to be a
decreasing slope because the line goes
down from left to right. Click Here to go back to
The B value of our equation represents the Y intercept of our
line. The Y intercept is the Y value where the line crosses the
axis. The X value is always 0 at the Y intercept.

Y= 3/2X + 2 → Y intercept = 2
Y= 3/2X – 6 → Y intercept = -6

The line in the

graph to the left
has a y intercept of
6, therefore the B
value is also 6.
 Finally we can graph linear equations! Here we will use our
knowledge of equations and their properties to construct a table that
will depict data for our equation. Lets look at an example.
Once we have compute the
Lets consider the values we can arrange
equation Y= -3X+2. them is a table like the one
below
We shall choose several
values of X and compute X value Y value
their Y values to fill out
-1 5
our table. Lets choose
-1, 0, 1, 2. 0 2
1 -1
-3(-1)+2=5
-3(0)+2=2 2 -4
-3(1)+2=-1
-3(2)+2=-4 Click here to see how our table turn
 Y= -3X+2

X value Y value → ( X, Y )
Notice that the table allows
-1 5 us to pull points out that we
→ ( -1, 5 )
0 2 will use to graph. All that is
→ ( 0, 2 )
left now is to plot these points
1 -1 on a graph.
→ ( 1, -1 )
2 -4 → ( 2, -4 )

Congrats on graphing your

first equation! Hopefully it
is the first of many. Notice
the graph is decreasing
because of the negative
slope, and the Y intercept
of 2. These are things that
we could have concluded
by examining our m and b
values.
Math is a unique subject, in that there is always more than one way to
approach a problem. Linear Equations are no different. In addition to
using a table, equations can be graphed using the equations
themselves

Remember that Y=M(X)+B tells us the slope and the Y intercept. The
y intercept is a point in itself and to complete our graph we only need
one additional point. To attain our additional point we simply use the
slope.

It might be useful, if you haven't already to review

“What Is A Linear Equation.”

Lets take the example of, Y= 3/5X+4. Click here to view the graph
and solution to this problem.
 So what is the point of knowing all this mathematical jargon.
Many real life situations are modeled in linear fashions.
Graphs and tables cram a lot of information into a single
page. They allow the reader to predict and compare different
models. Graphs can even be extended to predict information
outside of the know data.

A runner may
Employees may
use a linear
use linear models
model to predict
to compare the
the miles he will
salaries of
have ran after a
certain jobs.
certain number
of days.
 PowerPoint
created by

Using Glencoe’s Algebra 2 text,

© 2005