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How do you graph a slope-intercept form?

a) Plot the y-intercept and use the slope to find additional points
b) Plot the x-intercept and use the slope to find additional points
c) Connect two points on the line
d) Only plot the y-intercept

1 Answer

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The best answer is a) Plot the y-intercept and use the slope to find additional points.

Think of the y-intercept as the starting point of your bridge on the y-axis (think of it as the "shore"). It tells you where the line crosses the "ground" (y = 0). Now, the slope tells you how to climb up or down from that point to reach other parts of the line.

Here's how it works:

Find the y-intercept (b): This is the number at the end of the equation in slope-intercept form (y = mx + b). It tells you how far up or down from the zero point (0, 0) the line starts. For example, if the equation is y = 2x + 3, the y-intercept is 3. This means your bridge starts 3 units up from the bottom (because it's positive).

Use the slope (m): This is the number before the x in the equation. It tells you how much to climb or fall (think "rise over run") for every step you take to the right on the x-axis.

Positive slope: If the slope is positive (e.g., 2), it means you climb up 2 units for every 1 unit you move to the right. Imagine taking two big steps up a hill for every one step forward.

Negative slope: If the slope is negative (e.g., -3), it means you fall down 3 units for every 1 unit you move to the right. Imagine taking three big steps down a slope for every one step forward.

Plot the second point: Take your starting point (the y-intercept) and use the slope to find another point on the line. If the slope is positive, move 1 unit to the right on the x-axis and climb 2 units up (or vice versa). If it's negative, move 1 unit to the right and fall 3 units down (or vice versa). This second point is another piece of your bridge!

Connect the dots: Now you have two points on your line! Draw a straight line through them. That's your whole bridge!

So the correct option is A.

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