Verified Answer :

  • Identify the slope \(m = -\frac{3}{2}\) and y-intercept \(b = -3\) from the equation \(y = -\frac{3}{2}x - 3\).
  • Calculate two points on the line: when \(x=0\), \(y=-3\); when \(x=2\), \(y=-6\).
  • Draw a straight line through the points \((0, -3)\) and \((2, -6)\).
  • Recognize that the negative slope indicates the line slants downwards from left to right.

The equation represents a line passing through \(\boxed{(0, -3)}\) and \(\boxed{(2, -6)}\).

Explanation

  1. Analyzing the Linear Equation

The given linear equation is \(y = -\frac{3}{2}x - 3\). This equation is in slope-intercept form, \(y = mx + b\), where \(m\) is the slope and \(b\) is the y-intercept. Here, the slope \(m = -\frac{3}{2}\) and the y-intercept \(b = -3\). This tells us that the graph is a straight line that crosses the y-axis at the point \((0, -3)\) and has a steepness dictated by its slope. A slope of \(-\frac{3}{2}\) means that for every 2 units we move to the right along the x-axis, the line moves 3 units downward.

  1. Finding Points to Graph the Line

To graph the line, we identify at least two points that satisfy the equation.
First, we find the y-intercept by setting \(x = 0\):
\[y = -\frac{3}{2}(0) - 3 = -3\]
This gives us the point \((0, -3)\).
Next, we pick another value for \(x\). Let's choose \(x = 2\):
\[y = -\frac{3}{2}(2) - 3 = -3 - 3 = -6\]
This gives us the point \((2, -6)\).
Connecting these two points, \((0, -3)\) and \((2, -6)\), allows us to draw the graph of the entire line.

  1. Describing the Graph

The graph of the equation \(y = -\frac{3}{2}x - 3\) is a straight line passing through the points \((0, -3)\) and \((2, -6)\). Because the slope is negative, the line slants downwards from left to right. Since the slope is \(-\frac{3}{2}\), it passes through any points \((x, y)\) such that \(y\) decreases by 3 for every 2-unit increase in \(x\). This line extends infinitely in both directions.

Examples

In economics, linear equations are frequently used to model demand curves. For instance, if the relationship between the price of an item (\(x\)) and the quantity demanded (\(y\)) can be represented by a line such as \(y = -\frac{3}{2}x - 3\), a business can use this graph to visualize how changing the price affects sales volume. By plotting such a line, you can easily identify the expected demand at any given price point, helping you make informed decisions about pricing strategies to maximize revenue.