Final answer:
The 'm' in y = mx + b represents the slope, indicating the line's steepness, while 'b' is the y-intercept, showing where the line crosses the y-axis.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the linear function y = mx + b, the term m represents the slope of the line, which describes how steep the line is on a graph. The slope is a value that indicates how much the line rises or falls for every unit of horizontal movement; it's calculated as 'rise over run'. On the other hand, the term b is the y-intercept, which is where the line crosses the y-axis. This is the value of y when x equals zero. The y-intercept tells us the starting point of the line on the graph, specifically on the vertical axis. Together, the slope and the y-intercept determine the exact position and the angle of the line.