Concept Byte: Graphing Functions and Solving Equations

Use With Lesson 4-4

TECHNOLOGY

You have learned to graph function rules by making a table of values. You can also use a graphing calculator to graph function rules.

Example 1

Graph y = 1 2 x − 4 bold italic y equals , 1 half , bold italic x minus 4  using a graphing calculator.

• Step 1 Press the y = begin box , y equals , end box  key. To the right of Y 1 = , enter 1 2 x − 4 y sub 1 , equals comma , enter , 1 half , x minus 4  by pressing ( begin box , open , end box  1 ÷ begin box , divides , end box  2 ) x , t , θ , n − begin box , close , end box . begin box , x comma t comma theta comma n , end box . begin box , minus , end box  4.

  

• Step 2 The screen on the graphing calculator is a “window” that lets you look at only part of the graph. Press the window begin box , window , end box  key to set the borders of the graph. A good window for this function rule is the standard viewing window, − 10 ≤ x ≤ 10 negative 10 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 10  and − 10 ≤ y ≤ 10 . negative 10 less than or equal to y less than or equal to 10 .

  You can have the axes show 1 unit between tick marks by setting Xscl and Yscl to 1, as shown.

  

• Step 3 Press the graph begin box , graph , end box  key. The graph of the function rule is shown.

  

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