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Need Help Solving Linear Function?

I am working on an assignment for an online intermediate algebra class. This module is on the rectangular coordinate system, which I know fairly well. However, this one question has me stumped.

Here is the question:

Graph the linear function by plotting the x- and y-intercepts.

-3y = -3x

I've done the x/y intercepts on other questions with no problem, but this one has me confused and there are no similar examples in our lecture or other problems. So far I've tried this;

-3(0) = -3x then solve for x so x = 0/-3 = 0

-3y = -3(0) then solve for y so y = 0/-3 = 0

The answer is multiple choice and has four graphs with (0,0) as the only plot but different slopes. I'm 99.9% certain the slope is irrelevant here.

Have I done this correctly, or did I make a mistake along the way?

Thanks in advance,

1 Answer

Relevance
  • 7 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    You've already shown that the line goes through the origin (0, 0). But you do need the slope to be able to graph it further.

    Divide both sides by -3:

    y = -3x/(-3)

    y = x

    Comparing this to y = mx + b

    m = 1

    b = 0

    So basically this is a line with slope 1 through the origin.

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