1. Graphing Linear Equations by the intercept method

2. What is an intercept?
The intercepts are the points at which a graph crosses the x-axis or the y-axis.
y-intercept (0, 4)
(2, 0) x-intercept

3. Graph: 5y + 2x = 10 The intercept method works well when the constant
(the number all by itself: 10 in this case)
is evenly divisible by the other 2 numbers.

4. Graph: 5y + 2x = 10
Keep in mind that the intercepts each have one coordinate of 0, so we’ll make a short table of values x y

5. Place your finger over the x-term. What’s left?
Graph: 5y + 2x = 10
When x = 0 it disappears!
Place your finger over the x-term. What’s left?
5y = 10
y = 2 x y 2

6. Place your finger over the y-term. What’s left?
Graph: 5y + 2x = 10
When y = 0 it disappears!
Place your finger over the y-term. What’s left?
+ 2x = 10
x = 5 x y 5

7. Those are the intercepts!
Our table of values x y 2 5
Those are the intercepts!

8. Graph: 5y + 2x = 10
(0, 2)
This is the graph of
5y + 2x = 10
(5, 0)

9. When asked to graph the equation of a line by the intercept method:
Remember: This only works well if the constant can be evenly divided by the other two numbers.
Set up a table of values with x = 0 and y = 0.
Place your finger over the one that equals zero and do the math in your head.
Plot the 2 intercepts and connect the dots!