Final Answer:
The slope (m) of the given linear equation y = (5/9)x - 4 is 5/9, and the y-intercept (b) is -4.
Step-by-step explanation:
The given linear equation is in the slope-intercept form (y = mx + b), where 'm' represents the slope and 'b' represents the y-intercept. Comparing the given equation y = (5/9)x - 4 with the standard form, we can identify that the slope (m) is 5/9, and the y-intercept (b) is -4.
The slope of a linear equation indicates the rate at which the dependent variable (y) changes concerning the independent variable (x). In this case, the slope of 5/9 implies that for every unit increase in x, y increases by 5/9. A positive slope indicates a positive correlation between x and y.
The y-intercept is the point where the graph of the equation intersects the y-axis. In this context, the y-intercept of -4 suggests that when x is zero, y equals -4. Therefore, the initial point on the graph is (0, -4). Understanding these components allows us to interpret the behavior and characteristics of the linear equation y = (5/9)x - 4 in the Cartesian coordinate system.