From plotting points to reading lines
You can already plot a straight line — now you will describe it with an equation.
In Grade 6 you learned to read coordinates, plot points from a table of values, and join them into a straight line. A linear function always gives a straight-line graph.
This year you go to the heart of that line. Every straight line can be captured in a single equation, and two numbers control everything about it: how steep it is and where it crosses the -axis.
Why does this matter? Once a line has an equation, you no longer need to plot lots of points. You can sketch it instantly, compare two lines without drawing them, and predict values far beyond your table.
Keep your Grade 6 plotting skills sharp — this guide builds straight on top of them.
- A linear function always graphs as a straight line.
- Every straight line can be written as one equation.
- Two numbers describe a line: its steepness and its crossing point.
- An equation lets you sketch and compare lines quickly.