Picture a tree.
Jenn, Founder Calcworkshop®, 15+ Years Experience (Licensed & Certified Teacher)
Now, depending on the season, a tree will be in full bloom with lots of leaves or will be barren with just unadorned branches. But no matter how it looks, the tree is still a tree.
The same can be said for a linear equation. There are various ways of writing a line, but they all describe the same line, as SparkNotes accurately states.
The form in which a linear equation is written will depend on the situation, but if you are ever asked to graph a line, then the Slope-Intercept Form is the one you want!
Why?
Because it identifies the y-intercept and the slope without having to plug in or evaluate.
So what is slope intercept form?
Slope Intercept Formula
And when using the slope intercept formula, we focus on the two constants (numbers) m and b.
m describes the slope or steepness of the line, whereas b represents the y-intercept or the point where the graph crosses the y-axis.
And these two values help us to find two points on the graph!
How?
We “begin” with b … by plotting our first point at b (y-intercept), and then we “move” by using m, which is the ratio rise over run, to find our second point.
It’s that easy!
b is for beginning and m is for move!
And by using countless examples, together we will learn how to identify the slope (m) and y-intercept (b) from an equation, write an equation in slope-intercept form, graph a line using the slope and y-intercept, and how to change an equation from slope intercept to standard form.
Slope Intercept Form – Video
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