Graphing Linear Equations: y = mx + c
y = mx + c
y-intercept
This refers to the point where the line cuts the y-axis.
For x = 0 ; the equation becomes
y = m(0) + c
therefore y = c ; meaning where x = 0 ,
the line cuts the y-axis at the value of c,......... c = y-intercept
Slope
This refers to :
1) how steep the line is
2) the direction on the line
the slope is defined by =
set the y-intercept to 0, then y = mx + c becomes
y = mx + 0
y = mx
m = , defining the slope ........................m = slope
Play with different values for m and c by using the slides marked "m" and "c" in the graph above , and note the effects on the y-intrecept and the slope.