Final answer:
The y-intercept represents the value of y when x is zero, and the slope determines the steepness of the line. To find the y-intercept, set x = 0 and solve for y. To find the slope, calculate the change in y divided by the change in x between any two points on the line.
Step-by-step explanation:
The y-intercept, denoted by the letter a, is the point where a line crosses the y-axis. It represents the value of the dependent variable (y) when the independent variable (x) is equal to zero. The slope, denoted by the letter b, determines the steepness of the line and represents the rate of change of the dependent variable with respect to the independent variable.
To find the y-intercept of a linear equation, you can set x = 0 and solve for y. To find the slope, you can calculate the change in y divided by the change in x between any two points on the line.
The equation of a linear equation in slope-intercept form is y = mx + b, where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept.