326,378 views
33 votes
33 votes
How can you tell if an equation (for example, x=16+3y (don’t solve this)) will be represented by a straight line when graphed on a coordinate plane? Is there an easy way to tell or how do you figure that out?

User Pwightman
by
2.7k points

2 Answers

18 votes
18 votes
An equation where y = whatever and the ALL the variables are to the power of 1, like yours, then the line will be straight.

If the variable looks like x^2 or something, then it will not be a straight line.
User Arrix
by
2.8k points
15 votes
15 votes

Answer:

I know it is a straight line because I can convert it into standard or slope intercept form. An example of when something isn't a straight line is like y=|x|.

x=16+3y

-3y=-x+16

y=1/3x-16/3

User Jverzani
by
3.0k points
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