Final answer:
The characteristics of the graph of a linear equation of the form y = a + bx include a straight line shape, the slope and y-intercept, and the graph's orientation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The characteristics of the graph of a linear equation of the form y = a + bx include:
- A straight line shape
- The slope of the line determined by the coefficient b
- The y-intercept determined by the constant term a
- The graph's orientation (increasing or decreasing) based on the sign of b
For example, if we have the equation y = 2x + 3, the graph will be a straight line with a slope of 2 and a y-intercept of 3. The line will be increasing as x increases. If the equation was y = -1.5x - 2, the line would have a slope of -1.5 and a y-intercept of -2, and it would be decreasing as x increases.