Final answer:
The equations y = x and x = y are consistent and dependent because they represent the same relationship and have an infinite number of solutions where x equals y.
Step-by-step explanation:
The equations y = x and x = y reflect a relationship where one variable can be expressed in terms of the other. When we have two equations that essentially present the same relationship, they are neither inconsistent nor independent. The term 'inconsistent' would imply that there are no solutions that satisfy both equations, which is not the case here. Since one directly corresponds to the other, they are dependent on each other. However, they are also consistent because there is an infinite number of solutions that satisfy both equations (every point where x equals y).
In context with linear equations such as y = mx + b where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept, the concept of the dependence of y on x is evident. The independent variable is typically the x-value, which is graphed on the horizontal axis, and the dependent variable is the y-value, graphed on the vertical axis.
The set of equations y = x and x = y is therefore best described as consistent and dependent, which corresponds to option 2.