Final answer:
The y-intercept in a linear equation represents the value of y when x is zero and is the point where the line intersects the y-axis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The y-intercept, b, in a linear equation of the form y = mx + b represents the value of y when x is equal to zero. It is the point where the line intersects the y-axis.
For example, in the equation y = 2x + 3, the y-intercept is 3. This means that when x = 0, y = 3.
The y-intercept is important because it gives us information about the starting point or baseline value of a relationship or function.