Question 612470
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Of course it has a "b".  b just happens to equal zero in this case so they didn't bother writing it in.  But it is there nonetheless.  Your equation is linear because the variable is raised to the 1 power.  Putting in all of the elements that were left out:


*[tex \LARGE \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \frac{1}{2}x^1\ +\ 0\ =\ 0]


Note that anything raised to the 1 power is just itself.


In the example you gave, the coefficient on *[tex \LARGE x] doesn't matter, the equation describes the *[tex \LARGE y]-axis regardless of the value of the coefficient on *[tex \LARGE x] 


John
*[tex \LARGE e^{i\pi}\ +\ 1\ =\ 0]
My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it
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