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