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Graphing Linear Equations and Inequalities: Plotting Points in the Plane

Module by: Denny Burzynski, Wade Ellis. E-mail the authors

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Summary: This module is from Elementary Algebra by Denny Burzynski and Wade Ellis, Jr. In this chapter the student is shown how graphs provide information that is not always evident from the equation alone. The chapter begins by establishing the relationship between the variables in an equation, the number of coordinate axes necessary to construct its graph, and the spatial dimension of both the coordinate system and the graph. Interpretation of graphs is also emphasized throughout the chapter, beginning with the plotting of points. The slope formula is fully developed, progressing from verbal phrases to mathematical expressions. The expressions are then formed into an equation by explicitly stating that a ratio is a comparison of two quantities of the same type (e.g., distance, weight, or money). This approach benefits students who take future courses that use graphs to display information. The student is shown how to graph lines using the intercept method, the table method, and the slope-intercept method, as well as how to distinguish, by inspection, oblique and horizontal/vertical lines. Objectives of this module: be familiar with the plane, know what is meant by the coordinates of a point, be able to plot points in the plane.

Note: Your browser may not currently support MathML. See our browser support page for additional details. You can always view the correct math in the PDF version.

Overview

  • The Plane
  • Coordinates of a Point
  • Plotting Points

The Plane

Ordered Pairs

We are now interested in studying graphs of linear equations in two variables. We know that solutions to equations in two variables consist of a pair of values, one value for each variable. We have called these pairs of values ordered pairs. Since we have a pair of values to graph, we must have a pair of axes (number lines) upon which the values can be located.

Origin

We draw the axes so they are perpendicular to each other and so that they intersect each other at their 0's 0's . This point is called the origin.

An xy coordinate plane with gridlines, labeled negative five and five with increments of one on both axes.

Rectangular Coordinate System

These two lines form what is called a rectangular coordinate system. They also determine a plane.

xy-plane xy-plane

A plane is a flat surface, and a result from geometry states that through any two intersecting lines (the axes) exactly one plane (flat surface) may be passed. If we are dealing with a linear equation in the two variables x x and y y , we sometimes say we are graphing the equation using a rectangular coordinate system, or that we are graphing the equation in the xy-plane xy-plane .

Quadrant

Notice that the two intersecting coordinate axes divide the plane into four equal regions. Since there are four regions, we call each one a quadrant and number them counterclockwise using Roman numerals.

A rectangular coordinate system with quadrants labeled as I, II, III, and IV starting at the quadrant located in the upper right-hand side and going around counterclockwise.

Recall that when we first studied the number line we observed the following:

For each real number there exists a unique point on the number line, and for each point on the number line we can associate a unique real number.

We have a similar situation for the plane.

For each ordered pair (a, b) (a, b) , there exists a unique point in the plane, and to each point in the plane we can associate a unique ordered pair (a, b) (a, b) of real numbers.

Coordinates of a Point

Coordinates of a Point

The numbers in an ordered pair that are associated with a particular point are called the coordinates of the point. The first number in the ordered pair expresses the point’s horizontal distance and direction (left or right) from the origin. The second number expresses the point’s vertical distance and direction (up or down) from the origin.

The Coordinates Determine Distance and Direction

A positive number means a direction to the right or up. A negative number means a direction to the left or down.

A point with coordinates negative two, three plotted on rectangular coordinate system with the text message 'This point is located two units to the left of the origin and three units up from the origin.' written in the outer area of the plane.

Plotting Points

Since points and ordered pairs are so closely related, the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably. The following two phrases have the same meaning:

  1. Plot the point (a, b) (a, b) .
  2. Plot the ordered pair (a, b) (a, b) .

Plotting a Point

Both phrases mean: Locate, in the plane, the point associated with the ordered pair (a, b) (a, b) and draw a mark at that position.

Sample Set A

Example 1

Plot the ordered pair (2, 6) (2, 6) .

We begin at the origin. The first number in the ordered pair, 2, tells us we move 2 units to the right ( +2 +2 means 2 units to the right) The second number in the ordered pair, 6, tells us we move 6 units up ( +6 +6 means 6 units up).

An xy coordinate plane from negative ten to ten with increments of one. The graph contains an arrow from the origin to a point two units to the right of the origin and another arrow from the end of the first arrow to a point six units above. The coordinate of the point where the second arrow ends are two, six. There is a text message with the graph saying, 'It is sometimes helpful to read two, six' as 'if x equal to two, then y equal to six.'

Practice Set A

Exercise 1

Plot the ordered pairs.

(1, 3), (4, −5), (0, 1), (−4, 0) (1, 3), (4, −5), (0, 1), (−4, 0) .

An xy coordinate plane with gridlines, labeled negative five and five with increments of one on both axes.

Solution

(Notice that the dotted lines on the graph are only for illustration and should not be included when plotting points.)

An xy coordinate plane with gridlines, labeled negative five and five with increments of one on both axes. The graph contains four plotted coordinate pairs: negative four, zero; one, three; zero, one; and four, negative five.

Exercises

Exercise 2

Plot the following ordered pairs. (Do not draw the arrows as in Practice Set A.)
 (8, 2), (10, −3), (−3, 10), (0, 5), (5, 0), (0, 0), ( −7, − 3 2 ) (8, 2), (10, −3), (−3, 10), (0, 5), (5, 0), (0, 0), ( −7, − 3 2 ) .
An xy coordinate plane with gridlines, labeled negative ten and ten with increments of one on both axes.

Solution



Total seven points plotted in an xy-coordinate plane. The coordinates of these points are negative three, ten; zero, five; zero, zero; five, zero; eight, two; ten, negative three; and negative seven, negative three over two.

Exercise 3

As accurately as possible, state the coordinates of the points that have been plotted on the following graph.

An xy coordinate plane with gridlines, labeled negative ten and ten with increments of one on both axes and labels every two units. Points A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, P are plotted without specifying the coordinates of each point.

Exercise 4

Using ordered pair notation, what are the coordinates of the origin?

Solution

Coordinates of the origin are( 0,0 ) Coordinates of the origin are( 0,0 ) .

Exercise 5

We know that solutions to linear equations in two variables can be expressed as ordered pairs. Hence, the solutions can be represented as points in the plane. Consider the linear equation y=2x−1 y=2x−1 . Find at least ten solutions to this equation by choosing x-values x-values between −4 −4 and 5 and computing the corresponding y-values y-values . Plot these solutions on the coordinate system below. Fill in the table to help you keep track of the ordered pairs.

Table 1
x x                                                            
y y                                                            


An xy coordinate plane with gridlines, from negative ten to ten in increments of one on both axes and labels every two units.

Keeping in mind that there are infinitely many ordered pair solutions to y=2x−1 y=2x−1 , speculate on the geometric structure of the graph of all the solutions. Complete the following statement:

The name of the type of geometric structure of the graph of all the solutions to the linear equation
 y=2x−1 y=2x−1 seems to be __________ .

Where does this figure cross the y-axis y-axis ? Does this number appear in the equation y=2x−1 y=2x−1 ?

Place your pencil at any point on the figure (you may have to connect the dots to see the figure clearly). Move your pencil exactly one unit to the right (horizontally). To get back onto the figure, you must move your pencil either up or down a particular number of units. How many units must you move vertically to get back onto the figure, and do you see this number in the equation y=2x−1 y=2x−1 ?

Exercise 6

Consider the xy-plane xy-plane .

A rectangular coordinate system with quadrants labeled I, II, III, and IV starting at the quadrant located in the upper right-hand side and going around counterclockwise.

Complete the table by writing the appropriate inequalities.

Table 2
I II III IV
x>0 x>0 x<0 x<0 x x x x
y>0 y>0 y y y y y y


In the following problems, the graphs of points are called scatter diagrams and are frequently used by statisticians to determine if there is a relationship between the two variables under consideration. The first component of the ordered pair is called the input variable and the second component is called the output variable. Construct the scatter diagrams. Determine if there appears to be a relationship between the two variables under consideration by making the following observations: A relationship may exist if
  1. as one variable increases, the other variable increases
  2. as one variable increases, the other variable decreases

Solution

Table 3
I II III IV
x>0 x>0 x<0 x<0 x<0 x<0 x>0 x>0
y>0 y>0 y>0 y>0 y<0 y<0 y<0 y<0

Exercise 7

A psychologist, studying the effects of a placebo on assembly line workers at a particular industrial site, noted the time it took to assemble a certain item before the subject was given the placebo, x x , and the time it took to assemble a similar item after the subject was given the placebo, y y . The psychologist's data are

Table 4
x x y y
10 8
12 9
11 9
10 7
14 11
15 12
13 10


An xy coordinate plane with no grid lines. The x-axis goes to fifteen and the y axis goes to twelve. The x-axis is broken to start at ten and then increases at an interval of one unit. The y-axis is broken to start at six and then increases at an interval of twelve.

Exercise 8

The following data were obtained in an engineer’s study of the relationship between the amount of pressure used to form a piece of machinery, x x , and the number of defective pieces of machinery produced, y y .

Table 5
x x y y
50 0
60 1
65 2
70 3
80 4
70 5
90 5
100 5


An xy coordinate plane with no grid lines. The x-axis goes to one hundred and the y axis goes to six. The x-axis is broken to start at fifty and then increases at an interval of ten units. The y-axis goes to six in increments of one.

Solution

Yes, there does appear to be a relation.

Total eight points plotted in an xy coordinate plane with no grid lines. The x-axis goes to one hundred and the y-axis goes to six. The x-axis starts at fifty and then increases at an interval of ten units. The y-axis goes to six in increments of one. The coordinates of points are fifty, zero; sixty, one; sixty-five, two; seventy, three;seventy, five; eighty, four; ninety, five; and one hundred, five.

Exercise 9

The following data represent the number of work days missed per year, x x , by the employees of an insurance company and the number of minutes they arrive late from lunch, y y .

Table 6
x x y y
1 3
6 4
2 2
2 3
3 1
1 4
4 4
6 3
5 2
6 1


An xy coordinate plane with no grid lines. The x-axis goes to seven in increments of one and the y-axis goes to five in increments of one.

Exercise 10

A manufacturer of dental equipment has the following data on the unit cost (in dollars), y y , of a particular item and the number of units, x x , manufactured for each order.

Table 7
x x y y
1 85
3 92
5 99
3 91
4 100
1 87
6 105
8 111
8 114


An xy coordinate plane with no grid lines. The x-axis goes to ten in increments of one. The y axis is broken to start at eighty five and going in increments of fifteen thereafter, with the last label as one hundred and fifteen. The x-axis goes to ten in increments of one.

Solution

Yes, there does appear to be a relation.

Total nine points plotted in an xy-coordinate plane with no grid lines. The x-axis goes to ten and the y-axis goes to one hundred fifteen. The y-axis starts at eighty-five and then increases at an interval of five units. The x-axis goes to ten in increments of one. The coordinates of points are one, eighty-five; one, eighty-seven; three, ninety-one; three, ninety-two; four, one hundred; five,ninety-nine; six, one hundred five; eight, one hundred eleven; and eight, one hundred fourteen.

Exercises for Review

Exercise 11

((Reference)) Simplify ( 18 x 5 y 6 9 x 2 y 4 ) 5 ( 18 x 5 y 6 9 x 2 y 4 ) 5 .

Exercise 12

((Reference)) Supply the missing word. An
is a statement that two algebraic expressions are equal.

Solution

equation

Exercise 13

((Reference)) Simplify the expression 5xy(xy−2x+3y)−2xy(3xy−4x)−15x y 2 5xy(xy−2x+3y)−2xy(3xy−4x)−15x y 2 .

Exercise 14

((Reference)) Identify the equation x+2=x+1 x+2=x+1 as an identity, a contradiction, or a conditional equation.

Solution

contradiction

Exercise 15

((Reference)) Supply the missing phrase. A system of axes constructed for graphing an equation is called a
.

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