Question 112470
Given the equation:
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y = x
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This equation is in the slope intercept form of y = mx + b where m (the multiplier of x) is the 
slope of the line, and b is the value on the y-axis where the line crosses.
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For the given equation the multiplier of x is +1. [b is zero, so the line goes through the
origin where y is equal to zero.]
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So we know that the slope of the line of the given equation is +1. To make this line steeper,
all you have to do is to increase the slope. As a result you can say that:
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y = 2x 
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is steeper than the line defined by the equation y = x. And y = 5x is even steeper than
y = 2x. And y = 10x is even steeper than y = 5x. 
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In the other direction, if you want the original line to slope less than y = x, all you need
to do is make the slope less than 1, but greater than 0. The smaller the fraction, the
more the slope comes closer and closer to being a horizontal line.
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So
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y = (3/4)x 
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is less steep than y = x. Even less steep would be y = (1/2)x. And y = (1/4)x is less steep 
yet.
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Hope this helps you to understand the problem a little better.
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