ABOUT:

Sal creates a graph of the linear equation 5x + 2y = 20.

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT:

Create a graph of the linear equation 5x plus 2y is equal to 20. So the line is essentially the set of all
coordinate, all x's and y's, that satisfy this relationship right over here. To make things simpler, what we're
going to do is set up a table where we're going to put a bunch of x values in and then figure out the
corresponding y value based on this relationship. But to make it a little bit simpler, I'm going to solve for y
here. So it becomes easier to solve for y for any given x. So we have 5x plus 2y is equal to 20. If we want
to solve for y, let's just get rid of the 5x on the left-hand side. So let's subtract 5x from both sides of this
equation. The left-hand side, these guys cancel out, so we get 2y is equal to the right hand side, you have
20 minus 5x. And then you can divide both sides of this equation by 2. So you divide both sides by 2. The
left-hand side, we just have a y, and then the right-hand side, we could leave it that way. That actually
would be a pretty straightforward way to leave it, or we could call this 20 divided by 2 is 10 minus 5x over
2 or minus 5/2 times x. And so now using this, let's just come up with a bunch of x values and see what
the corresponding y values are, and then just plot them. So let me do this in a new color. So let me-- a
slightly different shade of yellow. So we have x values, and then let's think about what the corresponding
y value is going to be. So I'll start, well, I could start anywhere. I'll start at x is equal to 0, just because that
tends to keep things pretty simple. If x is 0, then y is equal to 10 minus 5/2 times 0, which is equal to 5/2
times 0 is just a 0. So it's just 10 minus 0 or 10. So that gives us the coordinate, the point, 0 comma 10.
When x is 0, y is 10. So x is 0. So it's going to be right here at the middle of the x-axis. And you go up 10
for the y-coordinate. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. So it's right over here. So that's the point 0 comma 10.
Let's do another point. Let's say that x is 2. I'm going to pick multiples of 2 here just so that I get a nice
clean answer here. So when x is 2, then y is equal to 10 minus 5/2 times 2, and the 2 in the denominator
cancels out with this 2 in the numerator. So it simplifies to 10 minus 5, or just 5. So that tells us the point x
equals 2, y is equal to 5, is on the line. So 2x is equal to 1, 2 right over here. And then y is equal to 5. You
go up 5. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, just like that. So that's the point 2, 5. And when you're drawing a line you actually
just need two points. If you have a ruler or any kind of straight edge, we could just connect these two
points. And if we do it neatly, every point on that line should satisfy this relationship right here. Just so we
get practice, I'll do more points. So let me do, let's say when x is equal to 4, then y is equal to 10 minus
5/2 times 4. This is equal to 5/2 times 4. This is equal to 10, right? Because the 2, divide the denominator
by 2 you get 1, divide the numerator by 2 you get 2, or 4 over 2 is the same thing as 2. So it becomes 2
times 5 is 10, 10 minus 10 is 0. So the point 4 comma 0 is on our line. So x is 1, 2, 3, 4, and then y is 0.
So we don't move up at all, so we have 4 comma 0. And I could keep going. I could try other points. You
could do them if you like, but this is plenty. Just two of these would have been enough to draw the line.
So let me just draw it. So I'll do it in white. So the line will look something like this. And I could keep going
in both directions. So there you have it. That is the graph of our linear equation. Let me make my line a
little bit bolder, just in case you found that first line hard to read. So let me make it a little bit bolder. And I
think you get the general idea.

IMPORTANT EXPLANATION:

I'm confused why do you subtract 5x from both sides. Why not subtract 2y from both sides instead of 5x???
In this case, we're trying to solve for Y (get Y by itself). It's important that we do that because basically, when
we form the table, we're throwing in a whole bunch of values for X, and then seeing what Y value we get from
it. The Y value get's paired directly with the X value we put in. We can't get it to output a Y value that can be
paired with the X value we put in UNLESS we solve for Y (get Y by itself on one side. )
Now, we could have solved for Y by subtracting 2y from both sides as well. It will be a couple extra steps, but
we can do it that way too. The original equation is:
5x + 2y = 20
We'll subtract 2y from both sides
5x = 20 - 2y
Next, we'll subtract 20 from both sides (we're trying to get Y by itself on the right side. )
5x - 20 = -2y
Divide both sides by 2 (This will make the -2y become a simple -Y. This gets us very close to having Y by itself.

5/2x - 10 = -Y
Then we just multiply both sides by -1 (this simply reverses the sign of -Y to make it a positive Y. Then we will
have Y by itself on the right side, which is what we want. )
-5/2x + 10 = Y
This is the same equation Sal got when he subtracted 5x from both sides. (-5/2x + 10 = Y is the same thing as
Y = 10 - 5/2x -- they are just written differently).
Basically, as long as you try to solve for Y and get it by itself, and you use valid math operations, then you
won't get the wrong answer, and whether you choose to subtract 2y or 5x as the first step is up to you. That's
the neat thing about math. There are often multiple ways to approach the same problem, as in this case, and
as long as correct math operations are used, you will still get the correct answer.

I hope this helps!