Why does my child draw y = 2x − 1 through (−1, 0)?
Your child starts a line on the x-axis instead of the y-axis, such as drawing y = 2x − 1 through (−1, 0) instead of (0, −1).
Why children do it
The −1 tells you where the line crosses an axis, and the x-axis is the one children reach for first. But it's the y-axis: when x is 0, y = 2 × 0 − 1 = −1, so the line goes through (0, −1). Putting x = 0 into the equation finds it every time.
How to help at home
Ask them to put x = 0 into the equation: the y they get is where the line crosses the y-axis, the one going up.
The right way
Draw the line y = 2x + 1.
- (0, 1), (1, 3)Start where it crosses the y-axis, at (0, 1), not (1, 0). Then 1 across and 2 up.
Find out where your child is
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