When graphing the y value in an ordered pair, we will move which way on the x-y coordinate plane?

1 Answer
Tony B
Jan 25, 2017

See explanation

Explanation:

For equations you have input values (independent variables) and output values (dependant variables). You may assign any value you wish to the 'input' but the output is the 'answer' part of the equation and is fixed according the values of the 'input'.

You should always read left to right on the x-axis. The y value can move up or down (or a mixture) depending the process applied to the x value.

You may sometimes come across and equation where #x# is the 'answer' part and y is the 'input' part. The consequence of this is that it rotates the graph #90^0# clockwise or anticlockwise to what it would have been in the form of #y="some action on "x#

Example: #"A function in "x" "->" "y=x^2#

#" A function in "y" "->" "x=y^2#

Tony B

but the graph of "#x=y^2# can be changed into the normally seen format.

Square root both sides:

#+-sqrt(x)=y#

#y=+-sqrt(x)#

This will produce the same plot as I have shown in red.

Notice that it a reflection about the line #y=x#

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