Coordinates and linear graphs Check that you can:

How to plot vertical lines and recognise their equations. • write the coordinates of a point plotted on a graph
How to plot horizontal lines and recognise their equations. • plot the coordinates of a point on a graph
How to use the equation of a line to produce coordinates. • substitute values into an equation to find a solution.
How to draw the graph of a sloping line, given a rule or equation.

Graphs of vertical lines Graphs of sloping lines

If we plot the following pairs of coordinates y We can complete the following table to find the value of 𝒚 for the equation 𝒚 = 2𝒙 + 1:
using one set of axes; 7
A (3, 6) 6 A To find each missing value of 𝒚, substitute the corresponding value of 𝒙 into the
B (3, 4) 5
x=3 𝒙 0 1 2 3 equation 𝒚 = 2𝒙 + 1:
C (3, 1) B In algebra, remember that 2𝒙 is the same as 2 × 𝒙.
4
𝒚 = 2𝒙 + 1 1 3 5 7 E.g. when 𝒙 = 0, 𝒚 = 2 × 0 + 1 = 0 + 1 = 1.
D (3, –4) 3

E (3, –6) 2
y

they all lie on the same vertical straight line on C 7

1
We can now plot the coordinates of the four points we have found:
the graph. 6
-7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
x
(0, 1) (1, 3) (2, 5) (3, 7). y = 2x + 1
5
-1
The 𝒙-coordinate is 3 for every point on the line. -2 The points are joined to draw the graph of the line with equation 4

-3 𝒚 = 2𝒙 + 1. 3
𝒙 = 3 is known as the equation of the line. D 2
-4
The equation is written on the line as a label. Always check that the line is straight! If it is not, there may be an error 1
-5
Notice that the line with equation ‘𝒙 = number’ is E in finding the coordinates or in plotting the points. x
-6 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
vertical (but the 𝒙-axis is horizontal). -1
-7
Notice how the line has been extended beyond the points given in the
-2
table. (The table could have included different 𝒙-values, but the line
-3
would have been the same).
Graphs of horizontal lines
-4

Lines with equations which include both 𝒙 and 𝒚 are neither vertical -5

If we plot the following pairs of coordinates y

nor horizontal. They are sloping lines. -6

using one set of axes; 7

-7

A (–6, 5) 6 Two very important lines

B (–3, 5) A B
5
C D E
C (1, 5)
4
y=5 It is very useful to be familiar with the lines with equations 𝒚 = 𝒙 and 𝒚 = –𝒙.
D (4, 5)
E (6, 5) 3 For the equation 𝒚 = 𝒙, the 𝒙- and 𝒚-coordinates are For the equation 𝒚 = −𝒙, the 𝒙 value is multiplied by −1.
they all lie on the same horizontal straight line 2 equal for every point. The 𝒙 and 𝒚-coordinates always have opposite signs.
on the graph. 1
x (–2, –2) (–1, –1) (0, 0) (1, 1) (2, 2) (–2, 2) (–1, 1) (0, 0) (1, –1) (2, –2)
-7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
The 𝒚-coordinate is 5 for every point on the -1 y y

line. 7 7
-2
6 y=x 6
-3 y=–x
𝒚 = 5 is known as the equation of the line.
5 5

-4 4 4
The equation is written on the line as a label. 3 3
-5
Notice that the line with equation ‘𝒚 = number’ 2 2

is horizontal (but the 𝒚-axis is vertical). -6

1 1

-7 x x
-7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
-1 -1

-2 -2

-3 -3

Remember! -4 -4

-5 -5

-6 -6

When plotting the equation of a line, always check that the line is straight! If it is not, there may -7 -7

be an error in finding the coordinates or in plotting the points.