Understanding the Intercept Form | Equation of a Straight Line

intercept form

The intercept form is a way to express the equation of a straight line

The intercept form is a way to express the equation of a straight line. It is written in the form:

y = mx + b

where:
– “y” represents the value of the dependent variable (usually the vertical axis)
– “x” represents the value of the independent variable (usually the horizontal axis)
– “m” represents the slope of the line, which determines how steep the line is
– “b” represents the y-intercept, which is the point where the line intersects the y-axis

In this form, the slope-intercept form of the equation (y = mx + b) is rearranged to isolate the y-term on one side of the equation.

The slope of the line, “m,” defines how the line slopes upward or downward. A positive slope means the line goes up as x increases, while a negative slope means the line goes down as x increases. The absolute value of the slope represents the steepness of the line.

The y-intercept, “b,” represents the value of y when x is equal to zero. It is the point where the line crosses or intercepts the y-axis.

By using the intercept form, it is easy to identify the initial position of the line on the y-axis and how it changes as x varies. This form is particularly useful when graphing lines and determining their equations based on given information.

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