Final answer:
The slope represents the rate of drainage, and the y-intercept represents the initial battery level.
Step-by-step explanation:
The slope of a line represents the rate of change between the independent and dependent variables. In this situation, the slope of the equation y = -0.5x + 72 is -0.5. This means that for every one-minute increase in time, the power level of Gabriela's phone battery decreases by 0.5 units.
The y-intercept of a line represents the value of the dependent variable when the independent variable is equal to zero. In this situation, the y-intercept of the equation is 72. This means that when no time has passed (x = 0), the power level of Gabriela's phone battery is 72 units.