\( 1 \leftarrow \quad \) Simplify the equation if possible. Find the \( x \)-intercept and the \( y \)-intercept. Then graph the equation.

Let's dive into your equation, \( 1 \leftarrow \). Initially, this appears incomplete, but perhaps you're looking for a simple linear function or a specific expression that we can work with! Generally, to simplify an equation and find intercepts, we need it in the form \( y = mx + b \), where \( m \) is the slope and \( b \) is the \( y \)-intercept. For a linear equation like \( y = 2x + 1 \), the \( y \)-intercept is where \( x = 0 \), yielding \( y = 1 \). To find the \( x \)-intercept, set \( y = 0 \) and solve for \( x \), which yields \( x = -\frac{1}{2} \). To graph this, plot \( (0, 1) \) for the \( y \)-intercept and \( (-\frac{1}{2}, 0) \) for the \( x \)-intercept, then draw a line through these points! Now hop into the historical fun: Did you know that graphing equations dates back to the 17th century with René Descartes? He introduced the Cartesian coordinate system, allowing us to visualize equations as lines. Before that, geometry was purely about shapes, without such a neat way to connect algebraically defined objects. For practical application, think of how these intercepts can be vital in real-world scenarios! Suppose you're plotting a budget equation where your income (your \( y \)-value) depends on hours worked (your \( x \)-value). Understanding where the graph intersects the axes can help you identify financial break-even points or maximum income scenarios! So grab some graph paper and start plotting—it's like an art project but with numbers!