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Course: Algebra (all content) > Unit 5
Lesson 8: Solving equations by graphing (Algebra 2 level)Solving equations graphically
Learn a clever method for approximating the solution of any equation.
Introduction
Can you solve the equation ?
Would any of the algebraic techniques you've learned so far work for this equation?
Try as you may, you will find that solving algebraically is a difficult task!
This article explores a simple graphing method that can be used to approximate solutions to equations that cannot be solved directly.
Let's make a system
Thinking about the equation as a system of equations gives us insight into how we can solve the equation graphically.
So, let's turn the original equation into a system of equations. We can define a variable and set it equal to the left and then the right side of the original equation. This will give us the following system of equations.
Now let's graph the equations.
It follows then, that an approximate solution to is .
Reflection question
We can verify our solution by substituting into the given equation.
We did it!
Using the graphing method, we were able to solve the advanced equation .
We can use the graphing method to solve any equation; however, the method is particularly useful if the equation cannot be solved algebraically.
A general method for solving equations by graphing
Let's generalize what we did above.
Here is a general method for solving equations by graphing.
Step : Let be equal to the expressions on both sides of the equal sign.
Step : Graph the two functions that were created.
Step : Approximate the point(s) at which the graphs of the functions intersect.
The coordinate of the point(s) where the graphs of the functions intersect will be the solution(s) to the equation.
Try it yourself
Now let's put it all together. The graphs of and are shown below.
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