How to Graph a Horizontal or Vertical line?

Related Topics

• Properties of the Horizontal Line
• Properties of the Vertical Lines

A step-by-step guide to graph a horizontal or vertical line

The horizontal line is a straight line drawn from the left to the right of the coordinate plane without a slope. The general equation of the horizontal line is as \(y=a\), where \(a\) is a real number in this equation.

In horizontal lines, the slope is equal to \(0\) and these lines are drawn parallel to the \(x\)-axis. In fact, the x-axis is also a horizontal line.

To graph the horizontal line with the equation \(y=a\), consider some points whose \(y\)-value is equal to \(a\) and connect the points.

A vertical line is a straight line drawn from the bottom to the top of the coordinate plane. The general equation of the horizontal line is \(x=a\), where a is a real number in this equation.

In vertical lines, the slope is undefined and these lines are drawn parallel to the \(y\)-axis. In fact, the \(y\)-axis is also a vertical line.

To draw a graph of a vertical line with the equation \(x=a\), consider some points whose value of \(x\) is equal to \(a\) and connect the points.

Graphing a Horizontal or Vertical line -Example 1

Graph this equation: \(y=4\)

Solution:

\(y=4\) is a horizontal line and this equation tells you that every \(y\)-value is \(4\). You can consider some points that have a \(y\)-the value of \(4\), then draw a line that connects the points.

Exercises for Graphing a Horizontal or Vertical line

Graph the following equations.

• \(\color{blue}{y=-7}\)
• \(\color{blue}{x=-1}\)