Question 241527: Slope-Intercept Form?
In laymans terms, can you explain the simplest way I can learn how to identify the slope and y intercept?
Example 2x-y=12
I have no idea where to even start??
Found 2 solutions by BayAreaRed, MathTherapy:
Answer by BayAreaRed(2)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! The Quick Study reference guide has a very simple explanation and I quote it here. The breakdown into sentences is mine. Read each sentence and MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND IT before you go on to the next.
"The slope of a line can loosely be described as the slant of the line.
If the line slants up on the right end of the line, then the slope will be a positive number.
If the line slants up on the left end of the line, then the slope will be a negative number.
If the line is horizontal, then the slope is zero.
If the line is vertical, then the line has no slope; it is undefined."
Now... once you understand that, then go on to this formula:
If the line is NOT vertical, then slope (indicated by the letter "m") can be found using two distinct points: A and B. Coordinates are written (x,y) with x being the horizontal point and y being the vertical point. For instance, if A's coordinates (x) are (5,6) and B's coordinates (y) are (7,3), then you would plug them into this formula:
m = (y2 - y1) / (x2 - x1) = (change in y) / (change in x) = rise / run
This is a complicated formula to write here, but Google "slope of a line formula" and you should see a better rendition of the formula.
In the case I stated above, you would plug A's coordinates in:
m = (3 - 6) over or divided by (7 - 5) = (change in y) over or divided by (change in x) = "rise" over or divided by "run"
I'm sorry I cannot give you a better explanation here, but this is one of those concepts that is difficult to explain sometimes. Here is a link on this site that I use for my students (I am a tutor) that might help explain it better.
http://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/Graphs/Graphing-by-Slope-Intercept-Method.lesson
I hope this helps. :)
Answer by MathTherapy(10552)  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! Slope-Intercept Form?
In laymans terms, can you explain the simplest way I can learn how to identify the slope and y intercept?
Example 2x-y=12
I have no idea where to even start??
For any equation to be in slope-intercept form, it has to be in the form, y = mx + b, where m, or the coefficient of x is the slope, and " + b" is the y-intercept.
Now, let's take your example, 2x - y = 12
We have to first of all put this equation in slope-intercept form
2x - y = 12 -----> - y = - 2x + 12 (subtract 2x from both sides of equation)
- y = - 2x + 12 ------> y = 2x - 12 (divide each side of equation by - 1)
Now that we have the equation in slope-intercept form, y = 2x - 12 indicates that m or slope of the equation is  , and " + b" or the y-intercept of the equation is 
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