SOLUTION: Trying to understand graphs of linear equations first time doing this. Slope: -1, y-intercept:2.

Question 358820: Trying to understand graphs of linear equations first time doing this. Slope: -1, y-intercept:2.
Answer by neatmath(302) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Okay, first, the y-intercept.

The y-intercept is just the point on a graph of an equation where the graph crosses the y-axis.

The y-intercept can be labeled as just a number y, or it is in the form (0,y) where y is some number.

The y-intercept will always be (0,y) and as you can imagine, the x-intercept is similar.

It is the point where the graph crosses the x-axis and is always labeled as a number x, or as the point (x,0).

A graph of an equation can have many x-intercepts and y-intercepts.

The good thing about a line is that it can have only one y-intercept and one x-intercept, unless it is a vertical line (x=0) or horizontal line (y=0).

As far as the slope goes, that is just a number m, which gives you the "slant" of the line (or curve) that you have graphed.

You can always calculate the slope of a line using two points on the line in this formula:

where the points are (x1,y1) and (x2,y2)

The slope is also known as RISE over RUN or

When the slope m is a positive number, the line increases or goes upwards as it goes from left to right.

Conversely, when the slope is a negative number, the line decreases or goes downward as it goes from left to right.

The slope of a horizontal line, such as y=4, is always m=0

The slope of a vertical line, such as x=2, is always undefined.

There are many different uses for the slope of a line (or curve), but for some early algebraic techniques, it is used mostly for graphing a line.

You will find many more uses for the slope of a line (or portion of a curve) when you discover Calculus!

I hope this helps!

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