The table is filled out by following these steps:
- Step 1) Pick any number you want for x. Usually small values work such as x = 0, but you can choose anything you want. Be sure it fits within the window of the graph.
- Step 2) Replace x with that number you picked. If you picked x = 0, then y = (1/3)x becomes y = (1/3)*0 = 0. Meaning x = 0 leads to y = 0. The point (0,0) is on the graph.
- Step 3) Go back to step 1 and repeat the process with other x values. I recommend picking multiples of 3 so you can avoid fractional values of y.
Follow those steps listed above so you can fill out the table. Each row of the table generates a different (x,y) point on the graph. Then draw a line or curve through the points. In this case, it's a straight line.
This straight line has a slope of 1/3 because y = (1/3)x is in slope-intercept form y = mx+b where,
- m = 1/3 = slope
- b = 0 = y intercept
A slope of 1/3 means "go up 1, over to the right 3" when hopping from point to point along the line.
The unit rate and slope are the same thing when it comes to linear equations.