How do you graph #x/2 - y = 7#?

1 Answer
Nov 5, 2017

Refer to the explanation.

Explanation:

Solve for #y# to change the equation to slope-intercept form:

#y=mx+b#,

where:

#m# is the slope and #b# is the y-intercept, which is the value for #y# when #x=0#.

Given:

#x/2-y=7#

Subtract #x/2# from both sides.

#-y=-x/2+7#

Multiply both sides by #-1#. This will reverse the signs.

#y=x/2-7#

#y=1/2x-7#

#m=1/2#

#b=-7#

Determine two points, such as the y-intercept and x-intercept (value of #x# when #y=0#).

Y-intercept: #(0,-7)#

X-intercept: #(14,0)# See below for the calculations.

#0=1/2x-7#

Add #7# to both sides.

#7=1/2x#

Divide both sides by #1/2#. When dividing by a fraction, invert the fraction and multiply.

#7/(1/2)=x#

#7xx2/1=x#

#14=x#

Plot the x- and y-intercepts. Draw a straight line through the points.

graph{y=1/2x-7 [-9.34, 10.66, -8.84, 1.16]}