1: Linear Equations
- Page ID
- 37804
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In this chapter, you will learn to:
- Graph a linear equation.
- Find the slope of a line.
- Determine an equation of a line.
- Solve linear systems.
- Do application problems using linear equations.
- 1.1: Graphing a Linear Equation
- Equations whose graphs are straight lines are called linear equations. A line is completely determined by two points. Therefore, to graph a linear equation we need to find the coordinates of two points. This can be accomplished by choosing an arbitrary value for x or y and then solving for the other variable.
- 1.2: Slope of a Line
- We learned how to graph a line by choosing two points on the line. A graph of a line can also be determined if one point and the "steepness" of the line is known. The number that refers to the steepness or inclination of a line is called the slope of the line.
- 1.4: Applications
- Now that we have learned to determine equations of lines, we get to apply these ideas in a variety of real-life situations.
Thumbnail: The red and blue lines on this graph have the same slope (gradient); the red and green lines have the same y-intercept (cross the y-axis at the same place). (CC BY-SA 1.0; ElectroKid via Wikipedia)