Chapter 4 (Linear functions and graphs) summary
Linear algebra
Substitution Solving equations
The process where a term is replaced with another, such as Applying inverse operations to find the solution (or value) of
replacing a pronumeral with a number or expression. a pronumeral.
Substitute 𝑥 = 5into 4𝑥 + 2𝑦 = 30 2𝑥 + 5 = 23
4(5) + 2𝑦 = 30
2𝑥 = 18
30 + 2𝑦 = 30
𝑥 = 9
Transposing involves applying inverse operations to rearrange
an equation to make another pronumeral the subject.
2l + 2w = P
2w = P − 2l
P − 2l
w = ________
2
Linear functions
Linear and non-linear functions
Function Description Examples Graph shape
Linear A function where each 𝑦 = a + b𝑥 A straight line
variable has a power of a𝑥 + b𝑦 = c 𝑦𝑦
either zero or one.
𝑦 = a
𝑥 = c
𝑥𝑥
Non-linear A function where either 𝑦 = 𝑥2 A curved line
variable has a power other a = 𝑥𝑦 𝑦𝑦
than zero or one.
𝑦 = a𝑥
𝑦 = log10(𝑥)
𝑥𝑥
Graphs
The graph of a linear function is a straight line. Graphs have 𝑦𝑦
three features: 𝑦𝑦-intercept
9
• Gradient – the steepness of a line, b rise
= _____
run 8 gradient
• 𝑥-intercept – the point on the line where it crosses 7 rise 𝑦𝑦2 − 𝑦𝑦1
run = 𝑥𝑥2 − 𝑥𝑥1 b = run = 𝑥𝑥 − 𝑥𝑥
the 𝑥-axis, when 𝑦
= 0 6 2 1
• 𝑦-intercept – the point on the line where it crosses 5
the 𝑦-axis, when 𝑥
= 0 run = 𝑥𝑥2 − 𝑥𝑥1
4
= a + b𝑥
When a linear function is expressed in the form 𝑦 3
• a is the 𝑦-intercept 2
• bis the gradient 1
𝑥𝑥-intercept
𝑥𝑥
−1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
−1
VCE General Mathematics Units 1&2 CHAPTER 4 SUMMARY 1
Gradients
Positive Negative Zero Undefined
As 𝑥
increases, 𝑦
increases As 𝑥
increases, 𝑦
decreases As 𝑥
increases, 𝑦
stays stays the same for all
𝑥
b > 0 b < 0 the same values of 𝑦
Example:: Example: b = 0 b = undefined
𝑦 = 2𝑥 + 3 𝑦 = −2𝑥 + 3 Example: Example:
𝑦𝑦 𝑦𝑦 𝑦 = 3 𝑥 = 2
𝑦𝑦 𝑦𝑦
𝑥𝑥 𝑥𝑥 𝑥𝑥 𝑥𝑥
Graphing linear functions
Method Requirements and steps Example
Two-points Two sets of coordinates 1𝑥
𝑦 = −__ − 1
method 2
1. Determine the coordinates of
Choose two values of 𝑥.
both points from the equation
(if applicable). 𝑥 = −4and 𝑥 = 4
2. Plot both points on a set of axes. Determine the 𝑦
values.
3. Draw a straight line between the −4 − 1 = 1, so (−4, 1)
𝑦 = −_____
two points. 2
4
__
𝑦 = − − 1 = −3, so (4, −3)
2
Plot both points, and draw a straight line.
𝑦𝑦
5
4
3
2
(−4, 1)
1
𝑥𝑥
0
−5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5
−1
−2
1 (4, −3)
−3 𝑦𝑦 = − 𝑥𝑥 − 1
2
−4
−5
Continues →
VCE General Mathematics Units 1&2 CHAPTER 4 SUMMARY 2
Method Requirements and steps Example
Gradient-intercept Gradient and 𝑦-intercept 𝑦 = −2 + 3𝑥
method 1. Determine the 𝑦 -intercept and The 𝑦
-intercept is (0, −2).
gradient from an equation
The gradient is 3.
(if applicable).
2. Plot the 𝑦-intercept on a set Plot the 𝑦-intercept, use the gradient to plot an additional point
of axes. (3 units up, 1 unit right) and draw a straight line.
3. Plot a second point run-units 𝑦𝑦
to the right and rise-units up 5
(if positive) or down (if negative) 4
Note: If the gradient is a decimal or 3
2 𝑦𝑦 = −2 + 3𝑥𝑥
whole number, the ‘run’ is equal to 1.
1 (1, 1)
𝑥𝑥
0
−5 −4 −3 −2 −1 −1 1 2 3 4 5
−2 (0, −2)
−3
−4
−5
Intercept-intercept 𝑥- and 𝑦-intercepts 5𝑥 + 2𝑦 = 10
method 1. Determine the 𝑥
- and 𝑦-intercepts. Find the 𝑥
-intercept by substituting 𝑦 = 0into the equation.
2. Plot the intercepts on a set of axes. 5𝑥 + 2(0) = 10
3. Draw a straight line between the
5𝑥 = 10
two points.
𝑥 = 2
𝑥-intercept: (2, 0)
Find the 𝑦
-intercept by substituting 𝑥 = 0into the equation.
5(0) + 2𝑦 = 10
2𝑦 = 10
𝑦 = 5
𝑦-intercept: (0, 5)
𝑦𝑦
5 (0, 5)
4
3 5𝑥𝑥 + 2𝑦𝑦𝑦= 10
2
1
(2, 0)
𝑥𝑥
0
−5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5
−1
−2
−3
−4
−5
VCE General Mathematics Units 1&2 CHAPTER 4 SUMMARY 3
Finding the equation of a linear function
Method Requirements and steps Example
Two-points Two sets of coordinates ( 3, 21)and (8, 11)
method 11 − 21
1. Determine the gradient using b = ___________
𝑦2 − 𝑦1 8−5
b = _________
𝑥2 − 𝑥1. −10
_______
=
5
2. Substitute band a point into = −2
𝑦 − 𝑦1 = b(𝑥 − 𝑥1)and simplify.
𝑦 − 21 = −2(𝑥 − 3)
Note: There are other possible methods.
𝑦 = −2𝑥 + 6 + 21
= −2𝑥 + 27
Gradient-intercept Gradient and 𝑦-intercept 𝑦𝑦
method 20
-intercept (a) from the
1. Determine 𝑦
graph.
15
2. Choose another point and
determine the gradient from the 10
𝑦2 − 𝑦1
graph using b = _________
𝑥2 − 𝑥1. 5
= a + b𝑥.
3. Substitute into 𝑦
𝑥𝑥
−5 0 5 10 15
−5
𝑦-intercept: (0, 15), so a
= 15
Choose another point and determine the gradient, b.
Using (5, 5)and (0, 15)
𝑦2 − 𝑦1
b = _________
𝑥2 − 𝑥1
5 − 15
_________
=
5−0
=
−10
_______
5
= −2
𝑦 = 15 − 2𝑥
Modelling with linear functions
Linear models
For a linear model of the form
𝑦 = a + b𝑥:
S
• a is the initial/fixed/constant value
150
• bis the rate of change
The domain of interpretation is the set of values of 𝑥 possible 100
given the context. S = 100 − 5n
Example: 50
The equation S = 100 − 5nmodels the depth of snow, S,
in centimetres after n
days. n
−10 0 10 20 30
• Initial value: 100 cm of snow initially
−50
• Rate of change: 5 cm decrease in snow depth per day
• Domain of interpretation: days cannot be negative, domain of interpretation
and on day 20 the depth of snow is zero. So, 0 ≤ n ≤ 20 0 <_ n <_ 20
VCE General Mathematics Units 1&2 CHAPTER 4 SUMMARY 4
Simultaneous equations
Sets of multiple linear equations with two or more variables.
Method Equations most suited Steps
Graphically Any 1. Graph the equations of both lines on the same set of axes.
2. Determine the coordinates of the point of intersection.
Substitution There is at least one equation 1. Label equations [1] and [2].
with one of the variables as 2. Substitute one equation (which as 𝑥
or 𝑦
as the subject) into the other.
the subject.
3. Solve for the unknown.
𝑦 = 2𝑥 + 3and 𝑥 + 𝑦 = 9
4. Substitute the value from step 3 into either [1] or [2] and solve for the
𝑥 = 𝑦 − 4and 𝑥 = −2𝑦 + 9 other unknown.
Elimination The equations have both 1. Label equations [1] and [2].
variables on one side of the 2. Choose an unknown to eliminate.
equal sign.
3. Multiply one or both equations so that the coefficients of the chosen
3𝑥 + 𝑦 = 2and 4𝑥 − 𝑦 = 1 variable are equal.
4. Subtract one equation from the other to eliminate the chosen unknown,
and solve for the other unknown.
5. Substitute the value from step 4 into either [1] or [2] and solve for the
other unknown.
Piecewise linear models
Type Description Example
Line segment A graph with segments across 5+𝑥 0<𝑥≤5
{6
graph different domains, where the 𝑦 = 20 − 2𝑥 5 < 𝑥 ≤ 7
variable on the vertical axis 7 < 𝑥 < 10
can change in value. 𝑦𝑦
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0 𝑥𝑥
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Step graph A graph with horizontal ⎧ 6 −5 ≤ 𝑥 < −1
⎪
segments across different ⎨ 4 −1 ≤ 𝑥 < 3
𝑦 =
domains, where the variable ⎪2 3 ≤ 𝑥 < 7
on the vertical axis is constant ⎩ 0 7 ≤ 𝑥 < 11
for each segment.
8
6
4
2
−5 0 5 10
−2
A closed circle indicates a value is included in the domain, and corresponds
to a ≤in the equation.
An open circle indicates a value is excluded from the domain, and corresponds
to a <in the equation.
VCE General Mathematics Units 1&2 CHAPTER 4 SUMMARY 5
Misconceptions
Description Incorrect ✖ Correct ✔
Drawing graphs through the origin, 𝑦 = 2𝑥 + 2 𝑦 = 2𝑥 + 2
instead of the 𝑦
-intercept. 𝑦𝑦 𝑦𝑦
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
𝑥𝑥 𝑥𝑥
−4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4
−1 −1
−2 −2
−3 −3
−4 −4
−5 −5
Confusing the 𝑥
and 𝑦values in (3, 4) (3, 4)
a coordinate. 𝑥value: 4 𝑥value: 3
𝑦value: 3 𝑦value: 4
Not taking into account the negative 𝑦 = 2 − 2𝑥 𝑦 = 2 − 2𝑥
sign of a gradient when plotting the 𝑦𝑦 𝑦𝑦
graph of an equation.
5 5
4 4
(1, 4)
3 3
(0, 2)
2 2
(0, 2)
1 1
(1, 0)
𝑥𝑥 𝑥𝑥
−1 1 2 3 −1 1 2 3
−1 −1
−2 −2
−3 −3
−4 −4
−5 −5
Choosing the incorrect equation in a
100 100
piecewise linear model because the
domains overlap. 80 80
cost per kg ($)
cost per kg ($)
60 60
40 40
20 20
0 0
0 10 20 30 40 50 0 10 20 30 40 50
total purchased (kg) total purchased (kg)
10 kg costs $90 per kg. 10 kg costs $70 per kg.
VCE General Mathematics Units 1&2 CHAPTER 4 SUMMARY 6
