Steply

Graph x = 0

Step by step, with the reason for every step · Vertical and horizontal lines · Algebra 1

Step by step

The question

Question: graph x = 0.

x = 0

A new word: vertical.

It means straight up and down.

vertical = up and down

1 Read the equation

x = 0 has no y in it.

So y can be any number.

But x is always 0.

x is always 0
y can be any number

2 Make points

Let's make some points.

Every point has x = 0.

For y, we pick any numbers: −2, 1 and 3.

−2
1
3

3 Plot the points

Draw the grid.

The x-axis goes across.

The y-axis goes up and down.

They meet at 0.

That point is called the origin.

Put the points on the grid: (0, −2),

(0, 1),

and (0, 3).

They stand in a column, right above each other.

4 Draw the line

Join the dots.

The line goes straight up and down.

It is a vertical line.

It never goes across, so we call its slope undefined.

The line lies right on the y-axis.

So x = 0 is the y-axis itself.

x = 0 → the y-axis

Careful: x = 0 is not a flat line.

It goes up and down.

Careful: x = 0 is not flat!

5 Check

Let's check one more point on the line: (0, 2).

Its x is 0.

So it fits x = 0.

The line is right!

(0, 2): x = 0

Let's look back.

First: read the equation.

Then: make points.

Then: plot the points.

Then: draw the line.

Last: check.

Answer
x = 0 → the y-axis

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