To solve the system of equations graphically, we will plot both equations on the same set of axes.
1. First Equation:
\( y = \frac{1}{2}x - 5 \)
This is in slope-intercept form \( y = mx + b \), where \( m = \frac{1}{2} \) and \( b = -5 \).
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Y-Intercept: The point where the line crosses the y-axis (when \( x = 0 \)): \[ y = \frac{1}{2}(0) - 5 = -5 \] So the y-intercept is (0, -5).
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X-Intercept: The point where the line crosses the x-axis (when \( y = 0 \)): \[ 0 = \frac{1}{2}x - 5 \implies \frac{1}{2}x = 5 \implies x = 10 \] So the x-intercept is (10, 0).
2. Second Equation:
\( x + y = 1 \)
We can rearrange this equation to slope-intercept form \( y = mx + b \): \[ y = -x + 1 \]
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Y-Intercept: When \( x = 0 \): \[ y = -0 + 1 = 1 \] So the y-intercept is (0, 1).
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X-Intercept: When \( y = 0 \): \[ 0 = -x + 1 \implies x = 1 \] So the x-intercept is (1, 0).
Plotting the Lines
Now, let's plot the intercepts for each equation:
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The line for \( y = \frac{1}{2}x - 5 \) will pass through:
- (0, -5)
- (10, 0)
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The line for \( y = -x + 1 \) will pass through:
- (0, 1)
- (1, 0)
Finding the Point of Intersection
The solution to the system of equations is where the two lines intersect.
To find this point algebraically, set the right-hand sides of the equations equal to each other:
\[ \frac{1}{2}x - 5 = -x + 1 \]
Multiplying through by 2 to eliminate the fraction:
\[ x - 10 = -2x + 2 \]
Combine like terms:
\[ 3x = 12 \implies x = 4 \]
Substituting \( x = 4 \) back into one of the original equations to find \( y \):
Using \( y = \frac{1}{2}x - 5 \):
\[ y = \frac{1}{2}(4) - 5 = 2 - 5 = -3 \]
Intersection Point
So, the solution to the system of equations is: \[ (4, -3) \]
You can then plot both equations on the axes, and the point (4, -3) will be where they intersect.