To provide a visual representation of the graph for the equation \(y = -\frac{1}{3}x + 4\), here are the steps to plot it, along with a text description of what it would look like:
Points to Plot
- Y-intercept (0, 4): This point is where the line crosses the y-axis. It's plotted above the origin on the y-axis.
- Point (3, 3): Move 3 units to the right from the origin (0, 0) and then down 1 unit to reach this point.
- Optional Point (-3, 5): Move 3 units to the left of the origin and then up 1 unit to reach this point.
Plotting the Points
- Draw the axes: A vertical line for the y-axis and a horizontal line for the x-axis.
- Plot the points:
- (0, 4): This point is plotted on the y-axis at 4.
- (3, 3): This point is located 3 units to the right and 3 units down from the y-axis.
- (-3, 5): This point is located 3 units to the left and 5 units up from the x-axis.
Drawing the Line
- After plotting the points, draw a straight line through them, extending the line in both directions.
Textual Description of the Graph
- The graph will slope downwards from left to right, showing that as \(x\) increases, \(y\) decreases.
- The line will intersect the y-axis at the point (0, 4) and will gradually decrease as it moves towards the right.
Example Graph Representation
Since I cannot create visual graphics directly, here's a simple example of how to visualize it with text:
Y-axis
|
5 | ( -3, 5 )
4 | ( 0, 4 )
3 | ( 3, 3 )
2 |
1 |
0 +--------------------X-axis
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
In an actual graph, the line would smoothly connect the points (0, 4), (3, 3), and (-3, 5), extending infinitely in both directions.
If You Need a Graph
You can use graphing tools or software like Desmos, GeoGebra, or even graphing calculators to plot this equation visually and see the line's precise behavior. If you have graph paper, you can manually plot the points and draw the line as described.