Final answer:
The coefficient of x in the equation y = 5x + 4 is the slope, representing the change in y for a one-unit increase in x, and the term 4 represents the y-intercept where the line crosses the y-axis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The coefficient of x in the equation y = 5x + 4 represents the slope of the line. This slope indicates how much the dependent variable (y) will change for each one unit increase in the independent variable (x). In this case, for each unit increase in x, y will increase by 5 units. This is a reflection of the steepness and direction of the line on a graph. The y-intercept of the equation is the constant term, which is 4 in this instance. This represents the value of y when x equals zero, or the point at which the line crosses the y-axis on a graph.