Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces (ALEKS) Basic Math Placement Practice Test

What is the correct method to graph the equation y = ax + b?

1. Find the slope and plot the x-intercept

2. Convert it into standard form

3. Create a table of values for x to find corresponding y values

4. Draw a circle representing the equation

The correct answer is: Create a table of values for x to find corresponding y values

To graph the equation y = ax + b, creating a table of values for x to find corresponding y values is an effective method. This approach allows you to select specific x-values, compute their corresponding y-values using the equation, and then plot these points on a Cartesian coordinate system. By doing this, you can visualize how the line behaves across different x-values, which is particularly useful for linear equations. You would start by picking a set of x-values (often including negative, zero, and positive values), calculate the corresponding y-values using the given equation, and then plot these points on the graph. Once you have enough points, you can draw a straight line through them, which represents the relationship described by the equation. This method highlights the linear nature of the graph, demonstrating how changes in x lead to proportional changes in y according to the slope (a) and y-intercept (b). Each point on the line reflects a combination of x and y that satisfies the equation, making it a robust strategy for accurately graphing linear functions.