Step by step
The question
Question: graph x = −4 and y = 1.
Two new words.
Vertical means straight up and down.
Horizontal means flat, going across.
1 Read the equations
x = −4 has only x: x is always −4.
It is a vertical line.
y = 1 has only y: y is always 1.
It is a horizontal line.
2 Draw x = −4
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.
x = −4 crosses the x-axis at −4.
Draw a vertical line through it: straight up and down.
3 Draw y = 1
y = 1 crosses the y-axis at 1.
Draw a horizontal line through it: flat, across.
4 Where they meet
The lines meet at one point.
There x = −4 and y = 1.
So they meet at (−4, 1).
5 Check
Let's check: (−4, 1) has x = −4, so it is on the first line.
It has y = 1, so it is on the second line too.
Right!
Let's look back.
First: read the equations.
Then: draw x = −4.
Then: draw y = 1.
Then: where they meet.
Last: check.