126 GRAPHS 2 UNIT 2

GRAPHS 2
Whether a graph is a straight line or not can be a matter of life and
death. When the polio vaccine was being developed, a researcher
plotted data on infectiousness of the vaccine and found the points
fell on a straight line. Scientists were convinced that the graph when
continued would be straight and that after nine days’ treatment the
vaccine would be totally safe. However they were wrong and many
people died or contracted polio as a result.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• Find the equation of a line • Solve a pair of simultaneous equations using a graph
• Sketch graphs using the gradient and intercepts

BASIC PRINCIPLES
• For a straight line, m is the gradient y

change in the y coordinates 'rise'

m= = rise
change in the x coordinates 'run'
c run
• The equation y = mx + c represents a straight line with gradient m and y intercept c.

• The equation ax + by = c also represents a straight line. It is most easily plotted by

finding where it crosses the x and y axes.
0 x

STRAIGHT-LINE GRAPHS

FINDING THE EQUATION OF A STRAIGHT-LINE GRAPH y

EXAMPLE 1 Find the equation of the straight line with gradient 2 that passes through
the point (1, 3).
(1,3)
The general form is y = mx + c
The gradient, m, is 2 ⇒ y = 2x + c
(1, 3) lies on the line. Substitute x = 1 and y = 3 to find c.
3=2×1+c⇒c=1
The equation is y = 2x + 1. 0 x
 UNIT 2 GRAPHS 2 127

EXAMPLE 2
Find the equation of the straight line passing through A (2, 3) y
and B (6, 5).

The general form is y = mx + c

2 1 1 B (6,5)
The gradient, m, is 4
= 2
⇒y= 2
x +c
2
(2, 3) lies on the line. Substitute x = 2 and y = 3 to find c.
1
A 4
This gives 3 = ×2+c⇒c=2 (2,3)
2
1 0
The equation is y = x + 2. x
2
1
Check: Substituting the coordinates of B gives 5 = 2
× 6 + 2 which is correct.

EXAMPLE 3 Find the equation of the straight line passing through A (3, 6) y
and the origin.

The general form is y = mx + c A (3,6)

6
The gradient, m, is 3
= 2 ⇒ y = 2x + c

(0, 0) lies on the line. Substitute x = 0 and y = 0 to find c.

This gives 0 = 2 × 0 + c ⇒ c = 0
6
The equation is y = 2x.

Check: Substituting the coordinates of A gives 6 = 2 × 3 which

is correct.

Note: all straight lines passing through the origin will have c = 0. 0 3 x

KEY POINTS
• If the gradient is m then the equation is y = mx + c.
• To find c, substitute a point that lies on the line.
• If the line passes through the origin, c = 0 so y = mx.

EXERCISE 1 Find the equation of the straight line with

1▶ Gradient 1 passing through (2, 3) 3▶ Gradient –2 passing through (0, 3)

8
2▶ Gradient 0.5 passing through (4, 1) 4▶ Gradient –1 passing through (0, 0)

Find the equation of the straight line joining A to B when

5▶ A is (1, 2) and B is (3, 4) 8▶ A is (0, 0) and B is (6, 2)

6▶ A is (–2, 1) and B is (3, 6) 9▶ A is (–1, 5) and B is (3, 1)

7▶ A is (–1, –5) and B is (2, 1) 10 ▶ A is (–2, 3) and B is (4, –9)

128 GRAPHS 2 UNIT 2

EXERCISE 1* Find the equation of the straight line that

1▶ has a gradient of 3 and passes through (–3, 3)

8
2▶ has a gradient of –0.5 and passes through (0, 0)

3▶ is parallel to 2y = 5x +7 and passes through (0, –3.5)

4▶ is parallel to 9x – 5y = –3 and passes through (5, –3).

Find the equation of the straight line joining A to B when

5▶ A is (–2, 1) and B is (–1, 4)

6▶ A is (–3, 4) and B is (6, 1)

7▶ A is (–2, 1) and B is (3, 1).

8▶ a Find the equation of the straight line joining A (–10, 5) to B (8, –4).
b What can you say about A, B and the origin?

9▶ A is (–8, –1), B is (–4, 1) and C is (12, 9).

a Find the equation of the straight line joining A to B.
b Find the equation of the straight line joining B to C.
c What can you say about the points A, B and C?

9 10 ▶ AB and BC are two sides of a parallelogram. A is (0, 3), B is (6, 6) and C is (7, 3).
Find the equations of the other two sides.

SKETCHING STRAIGHT-LINE GRAPHS

Sketching a straight line means showing the approximate position and slope of the line without
plotting any points.

A straight line in the form y = mx + c can be sketched by using the gradient and y-intercept.

EXAMPLE 4 Sketch these graphs. y

a y = 2x –1 b y=–2x+3
1
3 b
a
0
a y = 2x –1 is a straight line with gradient 2 and y-intercept (0, –1).
–1 x
b y = –0.5x + 3 is a straight line with gradient –0.5 and y-intercept (0, 3).

Graphs of the form ax + by = c could be sketched by rearranging the

equation as y = …

It is quicker to find where the graph crosses the axes.

 UNIT 2 GRAPHS 2 129

Sketch the graph 2x – 3y = 6. y

EXAMPLE 5

When y = 0, x = 3 so (3, 0) lies on the line. 0

3 x
When x = 0, y = –2 so (0, –2) lies on the line. –2

KEY POINTS
• A sketch is drawn roughly to scale, NOT plotted.
• Use the values of the gradient and intercept to sketch y = mx + c.
• Use where the graph crosses the axes to sketch ax + by = c.

EXERCISE 2 Sketch the straight lines with the given gradient and intercept.

1▶ Gradient = 1, intercept = 2 3▶ Gradient = –2, intercept = 1

7
1 1
2▶ Gradient = 2
, intercept = –3 4▶ Gradient = – 3
, intercept = –1

In Questions 5–8, write down the gradient and y-intercept and then sketch the graph
of the equation.

8 5▶ y = 3x + 5 9▶ Sketch 3x + 2y = 6

6▶ y=x–7 10 ▶ Sketch 2x – 4y = 8

7▶ y = –2x + 3 11 ▶ Sketch 4x – 3y = –12

1
8▶ y=–2x–1
y
a
12 ▶ Write down possible equations b
for the three lines on this sketch
graph. c

0 x

EXERCISE 2* Write down the gradient of the graph and the intercept (or where the graph intercepts the axes),
then sketch the graph.
8 1
1▶ y = 5x+
2
5▶ y = 3.5x – 7

2▶ y = 4 – 2x 6▶ y = –2x + 10

3▶ 2y = 5 + 4x 7▶ 2x – 3y = 1
5
4▶ y = −3 x +
2
8▶ 4y – 2x + 3 = 0
130 GRAPHS 2 UNIT 2

8 9▶ Write down possible equations for the three lines on this sketch graph.

b a c

0 x

10 ▶ Sketch ax + by = c for the following cases.

a a > 0, b > 0 and c > 0 b a > 0, b > 0 and c < 0 c a > 0, b < 0 and c > 0

SIMULTANEOUS EQUATIONS

ACTIVITY 1

SKILL: INTERPRETATION
Viv is trying to decide between two internet service providers, Pineapple
and Banana. Pineapple charges $9.99/month plus 1.1 cents/minute
online, while Banana charges $4.95/month plus 1.8 cents/minute online.

If C is the cost in cents and t is the time (in minutes) online per month
then the cost of using Pineapple is C = 999 + 1.1t, and the cost of using
Banana is C = 495 + 1.8t.

Copy and complete this table to give the charges for Pineapple.

Time online t (minutes) 0 500 1000

Cost C (cents)

Draw a graph of this data with t on the horizontal axis and C on the vertical axis.

Make a similar table for the Banana charges. Add the graph of this data to your
previous graph.

How many minutes online per month will result in both companies charging the same
amount?

When there are two unknowns, two equations are needed to solve them. These are called
simultaneous equations.

In Activity 1, the simultaneous equations were C = 999 + 1.1t and C = 495 + 1.8t.
The coordinates of the point of intersection of the graphs give the solution.
 UNIT 2 GRAPHS 2 131

1
EXAMPLE 6 Solve the simultaneous equations y = 2 x + 2 and y = 4 − x graphically.

First, make a table of values for each equation.

x 0 2 4 x 0 2 4
1
y = x+2 2 3 4 y=4−x 4 2 0
2

Next, draw accurate graphs for both equations on one set of axes.

The solution point is approximately x = 1.3, y = 2.7.

y Solution point

y 5 12 x 1 2

2.7

0 1.3 y 54 2x x

EXAMPLE 7 SKILL: PROBLEM SOLVING

At a craft fair stall Sarah buys two rings and three bracelets
and pays $11. At the same stall Amy buys one ring and four
bracelets and pays $13. How much does each item cost?

Let x be the cost of a ring and y be the cost of a bracelet.

For Sarah: 2x + 3y = 11
For Amy: x + 4y = 13

The graph shows both these lines plotted. 5 y

The intersection is at x = 1 and y = 3. 4

Each ring costs $1 and each bracelet costs $3.
3
Check for Sarah: 2 × 1 + 3 × 3 = 11
Check for Amy: 1 × 1 + 4 × 3 = 13 2

x
–1 0 1 2 3 4
132 GRAPHS 2 UNIT 2

KEY POINTS
To solve simultaneous equations graphically:
• Draw the graphs for both equations on one set of axes.
• Only plot three points for a straight-line graph.
• The solution is where the graphs intersect.
• If the graphs do not intersect, there is no solution.
• If the graphs are the same, there is an infinite number of solutions.

EXERCISE 3 1▶ Copy and complete these tables, then draw both graphs on one set of axes.

5 x 0 2 4 x 0 2 4
y=x+1 y = 2x – 2

Solve the simultaneous equations y = x + 1, y = 2x − 2 using your graph.

6 2▶ On one set of axes, draw the graphs of y = 3x – 1 and y = 2x + 1 for 0 ≤ x ≤ 6.

Then, solve the simultaneous equations y = 3x – 1 and y = 2x + 1 using your graph.

In Questions 3 and 4, solve the simultaneous equations graphically, using 0 ≤ x ≤ 6.

1
3▶ y = 2x + 2 4▶ y=2x+1

y = 3x – 1 y=4–x

7 5▶ Logan and Max go to the fair. Logan has three rides

on the Big Wheel and two rides on the Pirate Ship
and spends $12. Max has five rides on the Big Wheel
and one ride on the Pirate Ship and spends $13.
Let x be the cost of a Big Wheel ride and y the cost
of a Pirate Ship ride.

a Write down two equations showing what

Logan and Max spent.

b Plot these equations on one graph.

c What does each ride cost?

6▶ Freya is collecting 50p and £1 coins. When she has 18 coins the value of them is £13.
Let x be the number of 50p coins and y the number of £1 coins.

Write a pair of simultaneous equations and solve them graphically to find how many
50p coins Freya has.
 UNIT 2 GRAPHS 2 133

EXERCISE 3* 1▶ On one set of axes, draw the graphs of y = 2x + 1 and y = 3x − 5 for 0 x 6. Then,
solve the simultaneous equations y = 2x + 1 and y = 3x − 5 using your graphs.

6
2▶ Solve these simultaneous equations graphically, using 0 ≤ x ≤ 6.

6x − 5 = 2y
3x − 7 = 6y

3▶ Solve y = 4 – 2x and 6x + 3y = 18 graphically. How many solutions are there?

1
4▶ Solve y = 2
x + 3 and 2y – x = 6 graphically. How many solutions are there?

7 5▶ McMountain Construction is digging a tunnel in the Alps.

The mountain can be represented by 3y = 4x + 6000 for 0 ≤ x ≤ 3000

and 7y + 6x = 60 000 for 3000 ≤ x ≤ 10 000.

The tunnel can be represented by the line 10y + x = 30 000.

All the units are metres. Find the coordinates of the ends of the tunnel.

Q6 HINT 6▶ At the local pet shop Esme bought four cans of cat
Let £x be the cost food and two bags of treats for her kitten, spending £7.
of a can of cat Her friend Lacey bought three cans of cat food and three
food and £y be bags of treats, spending £6. By drawing graphs, find the
the cost of a toy. cost of each item.

9 7▶ At a music festival, tickets cost either £60 or £100. 1200 tickets were sold at a total cost of
£88 000. By drawing graphs, find how many £60 tickets were sold.

8▶ a Copy and complete this table to show the angle that the minute hand of a clock makes
with the number 12 for various times after 12 noon.

Time after 12 noon 1 1 3 1 1 3 1 1

0 1 1 1 1 2 2 2
(hours) 4 2 4 4 2 4 4 2

Angle (degrees) 0 180 90

b Use the table to draw a graph of angle against time. Show the time from 0 hours to 6
hours on the x-axis, and the angle from 0° to 360° on the y-axis.

c Draw another line on your graph to show the angle that the hour hand makes with the
number 12 for various times after 12 noon.

d Use your graph to find the times between 12 noon and 6pm when the hour hand and the
minute hand of the clock are in line.
134 GRAPHS 2 UNIT 2

EXERCISE 4 REVISION

1▶ Find the equation of the lines with

6
a gradient 2, passing through the origin b gradient –3, passing through (2, 0)

8
2▶ Find the equation of the straight line joining A to B when
a A is (3, 4) and B is (5, 8) b A is (–1, 2) and B is (1, 0)

3▶ Sketch the following graphs.

a y = 3x – 3 b y=4–x c 2x + 5y = 10

4▶ Solve y = 2x – 3 and y = 3 – x graphically using 0 ≤ x ≤ 4.

5▶ Solve y = x + 4 and y = 1 – 2x graphically using –3 ≤ x ≤ 1.

6▶ Music downloads from Banana cost $x each, while downloads from Musedown cost $y
each. Rahul downloads three songs from Banana and two from Musedown and spends $6.
Mia downloads one song from Banana and four from Musedown and spends $7.

a Write down two equations showing what Rahul and Mia spent.

b Plot these equations on one graph.

c What does each download cost?

EXERCISE 4* REVISION

1▶ Find the equation of the straight line passing through (6, 4) that is parallel to 3y = x + 21.
7

2▶ Find the equation of the straight line joining A to B when

9
a A is (–4, –1), B is (–1, –2) b A is (–2, –8), B is (1, –2)

3▶ Sketch the following graphs.

a y = 3x – 2 b 2y = 5 – x c 5x + 3y = 10

4▶ Solve 2y + x + 3 = 0 and 3y – x + 1 = 0 graphically using –4 ≤ x ≤ 2.

5▶ Lewis is doing a multiple choice test of 20 questions. He gets four marks for every correct
answer, but loses one mark for every answer that is wrong. Lewis answers every question
and scores 50 marks. Use a graphical method to find the number of questions Lewis got
wrong.

Q6 HINT
p will appear in 6▶ Find the equation of the straight line joining (–2, 3 – 6p) to (–2 + 2p, 3).
the answer.
 UNIT 2 EXAM PRACTICE 135

EXAM PRACTICE: GRAPHS 2

1 Find the equation of the straight line passing 5 At the market Theo buys six apples and four
through A (–1, –8) and B (1, 2). [3] avocados and spends $14. Erin buys four apples
and six avocados and spends $16. Let x be the
2 A straight line passes through the origin O cost of an apple and y be the cost of an avocado.
and the point A (4, –2).
Write a pair of simultaneous equations and solve
a Find the equation of the line OA. [2] them graphically to find the cost of

b Find the equation of the line parallel to a one apple

OA that passes through (–3, 1). [2]
b one avocado. [6]
3 Sketch the following graphs.

a y = 2x – 3

b 3x + 4y = 24

c y = –x + 1 [6]

4 Solve the simultaneous equations x + y = 8

and y = 2x – 1 graphically. [6]
Q4 HINT
Draw both x and y axes from –2 to 8.

[Total 25 marks]
136 CHAPTER SUMMARY UNIT 2

CHAPTER SUMMARY: GRAPHS 2

STRAIGHT-LINE GRAPHS SIMULTANEOUS EQUATIONS

To find the equation of a straight line: To solve simultaneous equations graphically:

• If the gradient is m then the equation is y = mx + c. • Draw the graphs for both equations on one set
of axes.
• To find c substitute a point that lies on the line.
• Only plot three points for a straight-line graph.
• If the line passes through the origin c = 0 so y = mx.
• The solution is where the graphs intersect.
y
• If the graphs do not intersect, there is no solution.
m
rise • If the graphs are the same, there is an infinite
number of solutions.
run
0 x 5 y
c
y = mx + c
rise 4
m=
run
Solution y=x+1
3

SKETCHING STRAIGHT-LINE GRAPHS 2 2x + 3y = 8

Sketch means show the position and slope of the

1
line without plotting points.
x
A sketch is drawn roughly to scale by eye – it is –1 0 1 2 3 4 5
not exact. –1

The straight line y = mx + c has gradient m and crosses The solution to the simultaneous equations y = x + 1
the y-axis at (0, c). and 2x + 3y = 8 is x = 1, y = 2.
To sketch the straight line ax + by = c find where
it crosses the axes.