The function y = x, called the "identity" or "ramp" function, is a basic function that you'll need to add to your math vocabulary. Since the " x " here seems to have no exponent, fix that by thinking "x^1," or "x to the first power," or "y=x is a linear function."
The graph of y=x always goes thru the origin. It begins in the 3rd quadrant and ends in the 1st, and appears as a straight line with slope of m = rise / run = 1/1 = 1.