suppose you were given 3x + 5y = -2 and are asked to graph this.
Solve this equation for y: 5y = -3x - 2 Divide both sides by 5
y = (-3/5)x - (2/5)
Your y-intercept is at (0, -2/5), and your slope is -3/5.
Plot (0, -2/5).. Then, starting from this point, move 5 units to the right and then 3 units DOWN. Plot the new point. Connect the points with a straight line.
