Drawing Straight-Line Graphs

Prior Knowledge:
Before attempting this sheet, students should be familiar with substitution into algebraic expressions.

Sometimes, you will be asked to draw the graph of a linear equation. Basically, this means that
when you plot and join the points on the graph, it will form a straight line. To draw a straight-line
graph, you are going to need to use your skills of substitution (as well as a ruler!)

Example 1:
Draw the graph of y = 2x + 3 for values of x from -3 to 3.
x -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
y

Begin by substituting x in the equation y = 2x + 3 with the x-values from the table. It might help
you if you redraw the table from the question to break down the equation. Continue substituting
x until the table is completed.
x -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
2×x 2 × -3 = -6 2 × -2 = -4 2 × -1 = -2 2×0=0 2×1=2 2×2=4 2×3=6
+3 -6 + 3 = -3 -4 + 3 = -1 -2 + 3 = 1 0+3=3 2+3=5 4+3=7 6+3=9
y -3 -1 1 3 5 7 9

Notice how the values of y increase by 2 each time – this is the same as the number in front of x
in the equation y = 2x + 3.

Now, you need to draw the graph. Use the table of values to plot the coordinates. Sometimes,
creating an extra row to the table can help. Don’t forget that the x-value will come before the
y-value in the coordinate pair.
x -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
y -3 -1 1 3 5 7 9
Coordinates (-3, -3) (-2, -1) (-1, 1) (0, 3) (1, 5) (2, 7) (3, 9)

y y
9 9
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
Finally, join the
1 1 points together
x x in a straight
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
-1 -1 line. Don’t
-2 -2 forget to use a
-3 -3 ruler!

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 Drawing Straight-Line Graphs
Example 2:
Draw the graph of y = -3x – 2 for values of x from -3 to 3.

x -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
y

Substitute x in the equation y = -3x – 2 with the x-values from the table.
Be careful of those negative signs! When you multiply two negative numbers together, the answer
will be positive. However, when you multiply a negative and a positive number together, the
answer will be negative.
For example, -3 × -2 = 6 but -3 × 2 = -6.

x -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
y 7 4 1 -2 -5 -8 -11

Notice how the values of y decrease by 3 each time – this is the same as the number in front of x
in the equation y = -3x – 2.

Like before, create an extra row in the table (if you need to), use the table of values to plot the
coordinates and join the points together in a straight line.

x -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
y 7 4 1 -2 -5 -8 -11
Coordinates (-3, 7) (-2, 4) (-1, 1) (0, -2) (1, -5) (2, -8) (3, -11)
y
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
x
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5
-6
-7 Note how the line of the graph slopes
-8 downwards in this example. That’s because
-9 the number in front of x is the gradient of the
-10 line. In the equation y = -3x – 2, the gradient
-11 is negative hence the line slopes downwards.

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 Drawing Straight-Line Graphs

Your Turn
1. Draw the graph of y = x + 2 for values of x 2. Draw the graph of y = 2x + 1 for values of x
from -3 to 3. from -3 to 3.

x -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 x -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3

y y
y y
5 8
7
4
6
3 5
2 4
3
1
2
x 1
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
x
-1 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
-1
-2 -2

-3 -3
-4
-4
-5
-5 -6

3. Draw the graph of y = x – 1 for values of x 4. Draw the graph of y = 3x – 4 for values of x
from -3 to 3. from -3 to 3.

x -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 x -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3

y y
y y
4 6

3 4

2 2

1 x
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
x -2
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
-1 -4

-2 -6

-3 -8

-4 -10

-5 -12

-6 -14

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 Drawing Straight-Line Graphs
5. Draw the graph of y = -x + 3 for values of x 6. Draw the graph of y = 5 – x for values of x
from -3 to 3. from -3 to 3.

x -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 x -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3

y y

y y
10 10

9 9

8 8

7 7

6 6

5 5

4 4

3 3

2 2

1 1

x x
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4

Challenge
Draw the graph of x + y = 6 for values of x from -3 to 3.
Hint 1: You will need to draw a table of values.
Hint 2: You will need to rearrange the equation so that y is the subject of the equation.
y

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