Which ordered pair lies on the graph of the function y = -2x + 1?

Answer 1

an infinite number of ordered pairs lie on a line, such as

the y intercept (0,1) the constant term

and the x intercept (-1/2, 0)

or (-1,3) or (1, -1) among endless other ordered pairs

in more general terms

(x,y) = (x, f(x)) = (x, -2x+1)

or (x,y) = ((y-1)/-2, y) = (f^-1(y), y)

ignore the rest of this post, unless you have nothing else to do that's not pointless

does the point lay or lie on the line?

usually the difference is whether the verb is followed by an object or not

if you lay down, use lay as in recline

if you lie on a line, lie on something, lie an an object, use lie

is the point lying on something? or is it just there by itself

if the "down" follows the verb use lay

does the point lay down or does the point lie on a line? is the line an object?

is the point lying? no matter how honest it seems to be?

or maybe you're in line at a restaurant and want to order 2 pears

then your ordered pear is limited to what's in stock, still a likely large selection

but no longer infinite. but possibly they ran out of pears and there is no ordered pear left.

if they serve the ordered pear on a silver platter, use lie, not lay. yet a hen lays eggs even

if they lay them on a nest. so you can never be sure, unlike math where there usually is

a right and wrong, compared to essay tests with gradations of grades.

meanwhile

go with y intercept as the easiest ordered pair, just read them right off the equation, the constant term when a linear equation is solved for y. and mathematicians say the point lies on the line. whereas, no one knows whether an English teacher would say lie or lay. but no points off in math class, either way, but points off in English classes, even if you got it right.