Suppose you needed to solve the equation:

x - 3 x = 8 x-5

There are several ways you could solve this equation: algebraically, graphically, or with a table (numerically). This first section of this lesson will show you how to solve the equation with a table on your graphing calculator.

To solve this with the table feature on the graphing calculator, you will need to enter the left side of the equation in Y1 and the right side of the equation in Y2.

Watch this video for the rest of the explanation on how to solve this equation with a table on your graphing calculator. You should follow along on your graphing calculator with the instructor as he solves the equation.

Now that you’ve watched the video, try solving the following equations on your own using a table on your graphing calculator.

Practice 1: Solve using a table on your graphing calculator. 1 2x - 2 5x = 1 2

Enter the left side of the equation in Y1 and the right side in Y2. Make sure you put the denominators of each rational expression in parentheses.


Set the table setting values. You might need to modify these as you try to find the solution(s).


Scroll through the table until you find the value(s) of x that makes Y1 and Y2 equal.


x = 0.2 is the solution to the equation. Close

This next problem will show you a disadvantage of solving an equation with the table on the graphing calculator.

Practice 2: Solve 1 2x - 2 = 3 x² - 1 using a table on your graphing calculator.

Enter the left side of the equation in Y1 and the right side in Y2. Make sure you put the denominators of each rational expression in parentheses.


Set the table setting values. You might need to modify these as you try to find the solution(s).


Scroll through the table until you find the values of x that make Y1 and Y2 equal. Make sure you find ALL values of x!


This equation has two solutions. x = 5 and x = -7 Close