document.write( "Question 119295: In the algebraic slope formula; y=mx+b why is \"m\" used to identify the slope and \"b\" the y-intercept? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #87383 by stanbon(75887)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Sorry; I misread your question.
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\n" ); document.write( "The slope tells you how much y changes when x changes one.
\n" ); document.write( "Assume you have f(x) = mx +b
\n" ); document.write( "When x increases by one you get:
\n" ); document.write( "f(x+1) = m(x+1)+b
\n" ); document.write( "f(x+1) = mx + m + b
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\n" ); document.write( "So, how much did y cange when x changed by one?
\n" ); document.write( "Subtract to find out, as follows:
\n" ); document.write( "f(x+1)-f(x) = mx+m+b - (mx+b) = m
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\n" ); document.write( "The y value increased by \"m\" when the x value increased by one,
\n" ); document.write( "so \"m\" is the slope.
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\n" ); document.write( "The y-intercept tells you where the graph would cross the y-axis.
\n" ); document.write( "The y-axis is the line where x = 0
\n" ); document.write( "So, if you have f(x) = mx+b
\n" ); document.write( "Then f(0) = m*0 + b = b
\n" ); document.write( "Therefore b is the y-intercept.
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\n" ); document.write( "Cheers,
\n" ); document.write( "Stan H.\r
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