How do you graph #y=1/5x-4#?

1 Answer
Jan 27, 2016

To graph anything, you make a chart consisting of X values and then solving them for Y values to get points.
graph{1/5x-4 [-10, 10, -5, 5]}

Explanation:

So to graph, you would first choose some random values for X. I'm just going to choose -10, -5 0, 5, 10,
So, I'd set up my table like this so far:
X Y
-10
-5
0
5
10

Then, I'd start with the x=-10 value. I'd fill in the X in the equation with -10 and solve.
#y=1/5x-4#
#y=1/5(-10)-4#
#y=-10/5-4#
#y=-2-4#
#y=-6#
So, if #x=-10#, then #y=-6#. This can be arranged with a point of #(-10,-6)#.

Then, fill in the Y value on the table and move on to the next number. Here's what a filled out chart looks like.
X Y
-10 -6
-5 -5
0 -4
5 -3
10 -2
And then you'd plot the points and draw a line through them.