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Before making a table of solutions for 2x + y = 3, why is it helpful to solve the equation for y first?
AIt avoids getting a fraction for the x-coordinate when y is set to 0
BIt changes the equation into a completely different line
CIt removes the need to check any of the solutions afterward
DIt guarantees every solution will be a whole number pair
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. It avoids getting a fraction for the x-coordinate when y is set to 0
1. Letting y = 0 in 2x + y = 3 gives x = three-halves, a fraction that is hard to plot precisely.
2. Solving the equation for y first, giving y = -2x + 3, makes it easy to substitute whole-number values of x and get a value for y directly.
3. Solving for y does not change which line the equation represents, and it does not remove the need to check the resulting points.
_Source: OpenStax Elementary Algebra (CC BY 4.0), Ch 4 "Graphs", section 4.2 Graph Linear Equations in Two Variables_
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