- 1). Convert the two intercepts into point coordinates.
For example, if you are given that the x-intercept is 2 and the y-intercept is -4, then the intercept points are (x,y)=(2,0) and (x,y)=(0,-4). - 2). Graph by drawing a line straight through these two points.
- 3
Rise Over Run (Slope)
Alternatively, make an equation of these two points.
The slope of the line is the rise over run between the two points: "y/"x. (Note that " means "difference between two numbers.") For our example, the slope is (0--4)/(2-0) = 2. - 4
Slope-intercept Form
Insert the slope and the y-intercept into the slope-intercept form.
For slope m and y-intercept b, the equation is y=mx+b. For our example, that's y=2x-4. - 5). Check your work.
Make sure the points upon which the equation are based do actually solve the equation. For example, (0,-4) does solve it, because (-4)=2---(0)-4. - 6). Plot some points using the equation.
Insert x-values to find the corresponding y-values. Then plot these (x,y) points. - 7
Only One Intercept
Draw the full line out by drawing through the plotted points.
As few as two points are needed to do so.
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