5.

7 Interpreting Graphs of Linear Functions

There are two main points that we want to always find on a linear function:

1) Horizontal Intercept (x-intercept) – is where the graph crosses the x – axis. This location is where
the value of x = 0 in the linear equation of a graph.
2) Vertical Intercept (y-intercept) – is where the graph crosses the y – axis. This location is where
the value of y=0 in the linear equation of a graph.

The equation of a linear line is: y=mx+b where;

y – is a y value along the graph of the linear function

x – is an x value along the graph of the linear function
m – is the slope (rate of change), and;
b – is the y intercept.

Example #1 – The following graph shows the fuel consumption of a scooter with a full tank of gas at the
beginning of a journey:

a) Determine the x and y intercepts, and describe what the points of intersections mean.
b) What is the linear equation of this graph?
c) What is the domain and range of this graph?

Volume of Gas in a Scooter

250

200
Volume (L)

150

100

50

0
0 2 4 6 8 10
Distance (km)
 Example #2 – Sketch a graph of the linear function f(x)=-2x+7. (When we sketch the graph we need to
find the x intercept, y intercept and a third point on the graph.)

1
Example #3 – Which graph has a rate of change of and a vertical intercept (y intercept) of 6? Justify
2
your answer.

a)

Distance vs Time
7
6
5
Distance

4
3
2
1
0
0 5 10 15
Time

b)

Distance vs Time
14
12
10
Distance

8
6
4
2
0
0 5 10 15
Time
Example #4 – The following graph shows the cost of publishing a school yearbook for College Louis-Riel
in Winnipeg. The budget for publishing costs $4,200. What is the maximum number of books that can be
printed?

Cost of Publishing a Yearbook

5000
4500
4000
3500
3000
Cost ($)

2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
0 50 100 150 200 250
Number of Yearbooks

Assignment – pg 319, Q’s 4-5, 6(a,d), 7- 11, 14, 15 (a, d), 16