Part 1/5:

Understanding the Equation of a Line

In the realm of mathematics, especially algebra, understanding the equation of a line is fundamental. Today, we will explore the basic principles, focusing on the equation in its simplest form:

The Equation of a Line

The equation of a line is usually expressed as:

y = mx + b

Here, m represents the slope of the line, while b denotes the y-intercept, which is the point at which the line crosses the y-axis.

Defining Slope and Y-Intercept

To delve deeper, let’s define these components:

Slope (m): The slope is defined as "rise over run," indicating how much the line rises or falls for a given horizontal distance. Graphically, this means measuring the vertical change (rise) for a horizontal change (run) between two points.