Question

Solve by graphing.
x2 + 2x – 3 = 0

Answer 1

Make a table of values. Let x = -5, -4, -3, ... , 3, 4, 5, and evaluate y = x^2 + 2x - 3 for each value of x.

Here's the table with the first ordered pair filled in.

x | y
-------
-5 | 12
-4 |
-3 |
etc.

Then set up an x-y coordinate plane and plot all points and connect them. Then try to see at which points the graph crosses the x-axis. The x-coordinates of those points are the solutions to your equation.