Mr. Huynh

 A linear equation can contain many parts such as this one: y = 2 x + 6. What does this all mean? To break it down, we must look at the initial form which is: y = m x + b

Each variable in y = m x + b represents a specific value. y = dependent variable m = slope (or change from one point to another) x = independent variable b = y-intercept

The x and y variables have a relationship. Y is the dependent variable because its value varies on x, hence x is the independent variable. Example: y = 2x + 6 If x = 2  y = 2(2) + 6  y = 10 If x = 4  y = 2(4) + 6  y = 14 The value of y depends on what the given x will be.

 Definition:The ratio from vertical change to horizontal change between two points on a line. It measures the steepness.  Slope can be calculated by using two points and plugging it into the following formula: m (slope) = (1 st y value – 2 nd y value)/(1 st x value – 2 nd x value)

Take points (-3, 0) and (0, 6). Simply plug it into your equation and you will obtain your slope. m (slope) = (1 st y value – 2 nd y value)/(1 st x value – 2 nd x value) m = (0 – 6)/(-3 – 0) = -6/-3 = 2

 The final value that is noted in y = mx + b is b. B denotes the y-intercept or the point where the line hits the y-axis on the graph. Going back to our previous example, y = 2x + 6, our y- intercept is 6.  Example of the intercept is in the next slide.