LINEAR FUNCTIONS

The Equation of a Straight Line

Sketching the graph
The slope-intercept form
The proof

WE NOW BEGIN THE STUDY OF THE GRAPHS of polynomial

functions.
We will find that the graph of each degree leaves its
characteristic signature on the x- y-plane.

The graph of a first degree polynomial is always a

straight line. The graph of a second degree polynomial is a
curve known as a parabola. A polynomial of the third
degree has the form shown on the right. Skill in cordinate
geometry consists in recognizing this relationship between
equations and their graphs. Hence the student should
know that the graph of any first degree
polynomial y =ax + b is a straight line, and, conversely,
any straight line has for its equation, y =ax + b.
Sketching the graph of a first degree equation should
be a basic skill. See Lesson 33 of Algebra.
Example. Mark the x- and y-intercepts, and sketch the
graph of
y = 2x + 6.

Solution.

The x-intercept is the root. It is the solution to 2x + 6

= 0. The
x-intercept is 3.
The y-intercept is the constant term, 6.
Now, what does it mean to say that y = 2x + 6 is the
"equation" of that line?
It means that every cordinate pair (x, y) that is on the
graph, solvesthat equation. (That's what it means for a
cordinate pair to be on the graph on any equation.) Every
cordinate pair (x, y) on that line is
(x, 2x + 6).
That line, therefore, is called the graph of the
equation y = 2x + 6. And y = 2x + 6 is called
the equation of that line.
Every first degree equation has for its graph a straight
line. (We willprove that below.) For that reason, functions
or equations of the first degree -- where 1 is the highest
exponent -- are called linear functions or linear equations.
Problem 1. Mark the x- and y-intercepts, and sketch the
graph of
y = 3x 3
To see the answer, pass your mouse over the
colored area.
To cover the answer again, click "Refresh"
("Reload").

The x-intercept is the solution to 3x 3 = 0. It

is x = 1. They-intercept is the constant term, 3.
Problem 2. Sketch the graph of y = 4.

An equation of the form y = A number, is a

horizontal line.
See Lesson 33 of Algebra, the section "Vertical and
horizontal lines."
The slope-intercept form

This linear form

y = ax + b
is called the slope-intercept form of the equation of a
straight line. Because, as we shall prove presently, a is
the slope of the line (Topic 8), and b -- the constant term -is the y-intercept.
This first degree form
Ax + By + C = 0
where A, B, C are integers, is called the general form of
the equation of a straight line.

Theorem. The equation

y = ax + b
is the equation of a straight line with slope a and yintercept b.
For, a straight line may be specified by giving its slope
and the cordinates of one point on it. (Theorem 8.3.)
Therefore, let the slope of a line be a, and let the one
point on it be its y-intercept, (0, b).

Then if (x, y) are the cordinates of any point on that

line, its slope is
yb
=
x0
On solving for y,

yb
x

= a.

y = ax + b.
Therefore, since the variables x and y are the
cordinates of anypoint on that line, that equation is the
equation of a straight line with slope a and y-intercept b.
This is what we wanted to prove.
The slope of a straight line -- that number -- indicates
the rate at which the value of y changes with respect to
the value of x. (Topic 8.)
Problem 3. Name the slope of each line, and state the
meaning of each slope.
a) y = 2x + 6

The slope is 2. This means that y increases 2

units for every 1 unit of x.
2
3

b) y =
The slope is

x +4

2
. This means that y decreases 2 units for every
3

3 units of x.

c) y = x
The slope is 1. This means that y increases 1
unit for every 1 unit of x. This is the identity
function, Lesson 5.
d) 3x + 3y = 1
It is only when y = ax + b, that the slope is a.
Therefore, on solving for y: y = x + 1/3. The
slope is 1. This means thaty decreases 1 unit
for every unit that x increases.