Math Problem Statement
Find the equation of the line graphed below. Write the equation in the form y = mx + b and identify m and b.
Solution
To find the equation of the line in the form , we need to determine two things from the graph:
- The slope , which represents the "rise over run."
- The y-intercept , which is the point where the line crosses the y-axis.
Step 1: Identify the y-intercept ()
From the graph, it appears that the line crosses the y-axis at . Therefore:
Step 2: Calculate the slope ()
To find the slope, we can pick two points on the line. Based on the graph, two clear points are:
- , where the line crosses the y-axis.
- , where the line crosses the x-axis.
The formula for the slope is:
Substitute and :
Conclusion
The equation of the line is: with and .
Would you like further explanation on any part of this process?
Additional Related Questions:
- How would the equation change if the line had a different y-intercept?
- What happens to the slope if the line is steeper?
- How do you find the equation if the line passes through two arbitrary points?
- What if the line is horizontal or vertical—what would the equation look like?
- How can you verify that the points you chose are accurate for calculating the slope?
Tip: When identifying the slope from a graph, always double-check the rise and run between two points for accuracy.
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Math Problem Analysis
Mathematical Concepts
Linear Equations
Slope-Intercept Form
Formulas
Slope formula m = (y2 - y1) / (x2 - x1)
Equation of a line y = mx + b
Theorems
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Suitable Grade Level
Grades 9-10