document.write( "Question 3386: what is a linear equation?
\n" ); document.write( "and how do u do it?
\n" ); document.write( "how is it set out on a page? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #1470 by drglass(89) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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A linear equation is on that make a line when graphed in Cartesian coordinates. It has the form y = mx + b where m is the slope (steepness) of the line and b is the point at which the line intersects the y-axis. It is called the y-intercept. If you are not clear look at the graph below:
\n" ); document.write( " $\"graph%28300%2C200%2C-5%2C5%2C-5%2C5%2Cx+-+2%29\"$

\n" ); document.write( "There are two thick red lines on this graph, the horizontal line is the x-axis, the vertical is the y-axis. Notice that the line crosses the y axis at -2 on that axis. Therefore the y-intercept or b is -2. The line rises from -2 on the y-axis to 2 on the x-axis, in other words for every one unit of rise on the y axis, it move 1 unit to the right on the x-axis. This means the slope is 1.

\n" ); document.write( "To write the equation for this line we write:

\n" ); document.write( "y = x -2 \n" ); document.write( "

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