How do you graph y=1/4x-4 by plotting points?

1 Answer
Jul 7, 2015

You need only two points to plot your function, that represents a straight line.

Explanation:

This is a linear function that will give you, when plotted, a straight line.
First you can see that the slope of your line is positive m=1/4 so your line is "going up" (from left to right).
Also, the line crosses the y-axis at -4.
So basically when x=0 then y=-4. This is one of the points you need.
To plot a line you need only 2 points, so, the next could be chosen at x=4 that gives you:
x=4 then y=1/4*4-4=1-4=-3

So, you can now plot your line through points of coordinates:
P_1: x=0, y=-4
P_2: x=4, y=-3
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