Final answer:
To graph the function y=18x, plot the y-intercept at the origin and use the slope to find another point, such as (1, 18). Then draw a straight line through these points and label it with the equation.
Step-by-step explanation:
To graph the function y = 18x, you start by understanding that this is an equation of a straight line. The slope-intercept form of a line's equation is y = mx + b, where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept, the point where the line intersects the y-axis. Since your equation does not have a b term, we can understand that the y-intercept is 0. In other words, the line crosses the origin.
To graph the function, you follow these step-by-step explanation steps:
Label the x-axis (horizontal) and the y-axis (vertical) on a graph.
Plot the y-intercept at the origin (0,0) since b is 0.
Use the slope to determine another point. Since the slope is 18, you can rise 18 units on the y-axis for every 1 unit you go to the right on the x-axis. So, from the origin, move one unit to the right to (1,0) and then 18 units up to (1,18). Plot this point on the graph.
Draw a straight line through the two points.
Label the line with the equation y = 18x
In a situation where you are using a graphing calculator, you would press the Y= key and type in your equation. If you were graphing the more complex equation given in the example, y = -173.5 + 4.83X, you would type that into the Y1 slot, but for your equation, just type 18X. Then press the graphing button, often labeled as ZOOM or directly the GRAPH key, commonly followed by 9 for a standard view.