Algebra 1 How to Graph a Linear Equation

Using Slope and y

Step 1: Put the equation in Slope Intercept Form
For example:

y = 2x + 3 is in slope

intercept form.
The number in the m position (2) is the slope and it is a positive number so the slope of the line
will be a positive slope. The number in the b position (3) is the y-intercept which means this is
where the graphed line will cross the y-axis.
When a linear equation is not in Slope Intercept Form, you must use your algebra skills to
change it into the correct form. For example: 2y + 6 = 2x

To change the equation into slope intercept form you must first subtract 6 on both sides of the
equation. By doing this, you get 2y = 2x 6. We are almost there. We now need to isolate y on
the left side of the equation. We do that by dividing both sides by 2. Remember to divide
everything on the right side by 2. This gives us
y = x 3. We now have the equation in slope intercept form and we can move on to Step 2.
Step 2: Graph the y-intercept point (the number in the b position) on the y-axis. In the example
above our equation is y = x 3 The number in the b position is a -3, so we plot a point on (0,-3)
on the y axis. Sometimes you will encounter an equation that does not have a number in the b
position. For example: y = 3x In this case you have a slope (3) but no y-intercept. In equations
without a number in the b position, the first point is plotted at the origin (0,0).
Step 3: From the point plotted on the y-axis, use the slope to find your second point. Remember,
the slope is the number in the m position in your equation. In the equation y = x 3 the slope is 1

since the variable counts as one. The slope of a line is the slant of the line and it is expressed
as
the rise being the up and down on the y-axis and the run being the distance right or

left. In our example above the slope is

. From the point (0,-3) on the y-axis use the

slope to find the second point. In this case go up one and over one to the right to the point (1,-2).
This will be your second point. Dont get caught up in the up or down in the (rise) part of the
fraction
. Its the run, or side to side that matters since that will determine whether the

line will be a positive or negative slope. In our example above, we could go down one from point
(0,-3) and to the left one to maintain our positive slope.
If slope is an integer use one as denominator. If the equation is

the

the slope is already in

form. In this example, 5 is in the b position and will be plotted as (0,5) on the y-

axis. From that point you will move up 2 and over 3 to the left to the point (3,7). This will be
your second and final point. Now draw your line. You will notice, that because you went up 2
and to the left 3, the line will be a negative slope.

Step 4: Draw your line using the two points you plotted (y-intercept (b) first, slope (m) second.
Be sure your line is pointing the right way. See below.