We will graph this equation by finding and plotting its intercepts, then connecting them with a line. To find the $x -$ and $y -$ intercepts, we will need to substitute $0$ for one variable, solve, then repeat for the other variable.

Finding the $x -$ intercept

Think of the point where the graph of an equation crosses the

x -

axis. The

y -

value of that

(x, y)

coordinate pair is equal to

0,

and the

x -

value is the

x -

intercept. To find the

x -

intercept of the given equation, we should substitute

0

for

y

and solve for

x .

x + y = - 3

Substitute

$y = 0$

x + 0 = - 3

IdPropAdd

Identity Property of Addition

x = - 3

An $x -$ intercept of $- 3$ means that the graph passes through the $x -$ axis at the point $(- 3, 0) .$

Finding the $y -$ intercept

Let's use the same concept to find the

y -

intercept. Consider the point where the graph of the equation crosses the

y -

axis. The

x -

value of the

(x, y)

coordinate pair at the

y -

intercept is

0 .

Therefore, substituting

0

for

x

will give us the

y -

intercept.

x + y = - 3

Substitute

$x = 0$

0 + y = - 3

IdPropAdd

Identity Property of Addition

y = - 3

A

y -

intercept of

- 3

means that the graph passes through the

y -

axis at the point

(0, - 3) .

Graphing the Equation

We can now graph the equation by plotting the intercepts and connecting them with a line.

Finding the x-intercept

Finding the y-intercept

Graphing the Equation

Finding the $x -$ intercept

Finding the $y -$ intercept

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