Question 1

LEVEL 4

Find which, if any, of the following lines are parallel.

a) 3y-9x=18

b) \dfrac{1}{3}y=x-7

c) 2y+x=1

d) 2y=6x-18

e) 4y=8x-4

Select the correct answer from the list below:

A: c and d

B: c, d, and e

C: a, b, and c

D: a,b, and d

 

CORRECT ANSWER:    D: a,b, and d

 

WORKED SOLUTION:

To find out which lines are parallel we need to change them into the form y=mx+c and compare the m values.

Line a
3y-9x=18
Add 9x to both sides
3y=9x+18
Divide both sides by 3
y=3x+6
m=3

Line b
\dfrac{1}{3}y=x-7
Multiply both sides by 3
y=3x-21
m=3

Line c
2y+x=1
Subtract x from both sides
2y=-x+1
Divide both sides by 2
y=-\frac{1}{2}x+\frac{1}{2}
m=-\frac{1}{2}

Line d
2y=6x-18
Divide both sides by 2
y=3x-9
m=3

Line e
4y=8x-4
Divide both sides by 4
y=2x-1
m=2

Comparing m values we can see that lines a, b, and d are the same, so are parallel.

Question 2

LEVEL 4

Plot the graph, from x=-3 to x=1, of the straight line that is parallel to the line 3y=6x-3 and passes through the point (-1,0).

Select the correct graph from the list below:

A:

B:

C:

D:

 

CORRECT ANSWER:  B

WORKED SOLUTION:

We need to change this equation into the form y=mx+c to find its gradient, which we do by dividing both sides by 3.

3y=6x-3
y=2x-1

To draw our parallel line from the point, we need to find this point, read across 1 and then up 2. Doing this will give us two points on our line.

And now, all we need to do is connect these points with a straight line.

Question 3

LEVEL 4

Choose the equation that is parallel to the line in the following graph.

Select the correct answer from the list below:

A: y = \frac{1}{2}x + 4

B: y = - \frac{1}{2}x + 3

C: y = 2x

D: y = -2x + 11

 

CORRECT ANSWER: A: y = \frac{1}{2}x + 4

WRITTEN SOLUTION:

The line in the graph has equation y = \frac{1}{2}x + 1

Therefore any line parallel to this must have the same gradient, \frac{1}{2}

The only equation with the same gradient is y = \frac{1}{2}x + 4, by looking at the coefficient before the x

Question 4

LEVEL 4

Choose the equation that is parallel to the line in the following graph and passes through the point (-2,-4)

 


Select the correct answer from the list below:

A: y = \frac{3}{2}x - 1

B: y = \frac{2}{3}x - 1

C: y = \frac{3}{2}x

D: y = - \frac{2}{3}x +2

 

CORRECT ANSWER: A: y = \frac{3}{2}x - 1

WRITTEN SOLUTION:

The line in the graph has equation y = \frac{3}{2}x + 1

Therefore any line parallel to this must have the same gradient, \frac{3}{2}

The only equations with the same gradient are y = \frac{3}{2}x - 1 and y = \frac{3}{2}x, by looking at the coefficient before the x

We can look at the graph or substitute values of x=-2 and y=-4 into the equation y = \frac{3}{2}x + c to find the value of c

In doing so, we find that the y-intercept, c, is -1

Therefore the correct equation is y = \frac{3}{2}x - 1

Question 5

LEVEL 4

Choose the equation that is parallel to the line with equation y +3x = 5.

Select the correct answer from the list below:

A: y = -3x

B: y = 3x + 3

C: y = - \frac{1}{3}x + 1

D: y = \frac{1}{3}x +5

 

CORRECT ANSWER: A: y = -3x

WRITTEN SOLUTION:

We first need to rearrange the equation of the line to get it in the form y=mx+c

Subtracting 3x from both sides gives y = -3x+5

Any line parallel to this must have the same gradient, -3

The only equation with the same gradient is y = -3x, by looking at the coefficient before the x