Writing Linear Equations

Front

What is a linear equation?

Back

A linear equation is an equation that makes a straight line when graphed. It can be written in the form y = mx + b, where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept.

Front

What does it mean for two lines to be parallel?

Back

Two lines are parallel if they have the same slope but different y-intercepts. They will never intersect.

Front

What does it mean for two lines to be perpendicular?

Back

Two lines are perpendicular if the product of their slopes is -1. This means that one line is the negative reciprocal of the other.

Front

How do you find the slope of a line given two points?

Back

The slope (m) can be calculated using the formula m = (y2 - y1) / (x2 - x1), where (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) are the coordinates of the two points.

Front

What is the slope-intercept form of a linear equation?

Back

The slope-intercept form is y = mx + b, where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept.

Front

How do you write an equation of a line given a point and a slope?

Back

Use the point-slope form: y - y1 = m(x - x1), where (x1, y1) is the point and m is the slope.

Front

What is the y-intercept of a linear equation?

Back

The y-intercept is the point where the line crosses the y-axis, represented by the value of b in the slope-intercept form y = mx + b.

Front

How do you determine if a line is parallel to another line?

Back

To determine if a line is parallel to another, check if their slopes are equal.

Front

How do you determine if a line is perpendicular to another line?

Back

To determine if a line is perpendicular to another, check if the product of their slopes equals -1.

Front

What is the equation of a line that passes through the point (0, b)?

Back

The equation is y = b, which is a horizontal line.