Graphing

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GRE Quantitative Reasoning › Graphing

Questions 1 - 8
1

The slope of a line segment with points and is:

Explanation

The formula for calculating slope is rise over run, or the difference in divided by the difference in . In this case, the difference in is 5 while the difference in is 5, resulting in a slope of or 1.

2

The slope of a line segment with points and is:

Explanation

The formula for calculating slope is rise over run, or the difference in divided by the difference in . In this case, the difference in is 5 while the difference in is 5, resulting in a slope of or 1.

3

Which of the following terms are linear?

x2

yz

sin(x)

x

all of these terms are linear

Explanation

Linear terms have only one variable in a product and no exponents other than 0 or 1. x2 has an exponent other than 0 or 1 so it is not linear. yz has two variables so is also not a linear term. Linear terms cannot have functions of variables either, so sin(x) is not linear.

We can also think of these terms somewhat like graphing equations. Linear equations are straight lines. You might recognize, for example, that x2 should be a parabola. Sin(x) has a graph that looks like a harmonic wave. Clearly these two shaps aren't straight lines!

4

Which of the following terms are linear?

x2

yz

sin(x)

x

all of these terms are linear

Explanation

Linear terms have only one variable in a product and no exponents other than 0 or 1. x2 has an exponent other than 0 or 1 so it is not linear. yz has two variables so is also not a linear term. Linear terms cannot have functions of variables either, so sin(x) is not linear.

We can also think of these terms somewhat like graphing equations. Linear equations are straight lines. You might recognize, for example, that x2 should be a parabola. Sin(x) has a graph that looks like a harmonic wave. Clearly these two shaps aren't straight lines!

5

Suppose .

To obtain the graph of , shift the graph a distance of units .

Upwards

Downwards

To the right

To the left

Up and right

Explanation

There are four shifts of the graph y = f(x):

y = f(x) + c shifts the graph c units upwards.

y = f(x) – c shifts the graph c units downwards.

y = f(x + c) shifts the graph c units to the left.

y = f(x – c) shifts the graph c units to the right.

6

Suppose .

To obtain the graph of , shift the graph a distance of units .

Upwards

Downwards

To the right

To the left

Up and right

Explanation

There are four shifts of the graph y = f(x):

y = f(x) + c shifts the graph c units upwards.

y = f(x) – c shifts the graph c units downwards.

y = f(x + c) shifts the graph c units to the left.

y = f(x – c) shifts the graph c units to the right.

7

What is the slope of the linear line that passes through the origin and the point ?

Explanation

Slope of a line given 2 points can be found using

.

Therefore

or

8

What is the slope of the linear line that passes through the origin and the point ?

Explanation

Slope of a line given 2 points can be found using

.

Therefore

or