Question

The graphs of f(x) and g(x) are shown below: (will post pic)

What are the solutions to the equation f(x) = g(x)?

Answer 1

You're looking for the points where the first graph touches the second graph. In this case there are two points. Do you know where to go from here?

Answer 2

I think I do.. I just am confused wether the solutions are solutions are supposed to be on the x axis or the y... if that makes sense.

Answer 3

Okay, if this is what you mean I will try to explain. Whenever you are writing a point, it has co-ordinates (x,y). The x-axis is that horizontal right-to-left line, and the y-axis is that up-and-down, vertical line. You always list the "x" value first when you're writing the point, and the "y" second.

So if you're trying to find the points where f(x)=g(x), you have to look at the places where the two graphs touch -- to figure out what the actual points are, look at the places they touch and see how it lines up with the x-axis and the y-axis.

One of the solutions in this case, will be (-1, -10). This is because the part where the two graphs touch lines up with the -1 on the x-axis, and the -10 on the y-axis. Does that make sense or should I explain something better?

Answer 4

I tried to show it in a picture. Draw or imagine a line down from the x-axis and another line from the y-axis until you hit that point where the two graphs touch. What are the numbers there? The number from the up-and-down line is your x, so (-1...)
and the number from the left-right line is your y, so (... -10).

That means one solution is (-1,-10).

Answer 5

Your solutions won't be just on the x-axis or just on the y-axis here. They will have both an x and a y value.