4.5 Use the Slope-Intercept Form of an Equation of a Line

Recognize the Relation Between the Graph and the Slope–Intercept Form of an Equation of a Line

We have graphed linear equations by plotting points, using intercepts, recognizing horizontal and vertical lines, and using the point–slope method. Once we see how an equation in slope–intercept form and its graph are related, we’ll have one more method we can use to graph lines.

In Graph Linear Equations in Two Variables, we graphed the line of the equation $y=\frac{1}{2}x+3$ by plotting points. See Figure 4.24. Let’s find the slope of this line.

The red lines show us the rise is 1 and the run is 2. Substituting into the slope formula:

$$\begin{array}{ccc}\hfill m& =\hfill & \frac{\text{rise}}{\text{run}}\hfill \\ \hfill m& =\hfill & \frac{1}{2}\hfill \end{array}$$

What is the y-intercept of the line? The y-intercept is where the line crosses the y-axis, so y-intercept is $\left(0,3\right)$. The equation of this line is:

Notice, the line has:

When a linear equation is solved for $y$, the coefficient of the $x$ term is the slope and the constant term is the y-coordinate of the y-intercept. We say that the equation $y=\frac{1}{2}x+3$ is in slope–intercept form.

Sometimes the slope–intercept form is called the “y-form.”

Identify the Slope and y-Intercept From an Equation of a Line

In Understand Slope of a Line, we graphed a line using the slope and a point. When we are given an equation in slope–intercept form, we can use the y-intercept as the point, and then count out the slope from there. Let’s practice finding the values of the slope and y-intercept from the equation of a line.

When an equation of a line is not given in slope–intercept form, our first step will be to solve the equation for $y$.

Graph a Line Using its Slope and Intercept

Now that we know how to find the slope and y-intercept of a line from its equation, we can graph the line by plotting the y-intercept and then using the slope to find another point.

We have used a grid with $x$ and $y$ both going from about $\mathrm{-10}$ to 10 for all the equations we’ve graphed so far. Not all linear equations can be graphed on this small grid. Often, especially in applications with real-world data, we’ll need to extend the axes to bigger positive or smaller negative numbers.

Now that we have graphed lines by using the slope and y-intercept, let’s summarize all the methods we have used to graph lines. See Figure 4.25.

Choose the Most Convenient Method to Graph a Line

Now that we have seen several methods we can use to graph lines, how do we know which method to use for a given equation?

While we could plot points, use the slope–intercept form, or find the intercepts for any equation, if we recognize the most convenient way to graph a certain type of equation, our work will be easier. Generally, plotting points is not the most efficient way to graph a line. We saw better methods in sections 4.3, 4.4, and earlier in this section. Let’s look for some patterns to help determine the most convenient method to graph a line.

Here are six equations we graphed in this chapter, and the method we used to graph each of them.

$$\begin{array}{cccccccc}& & & \mathbf{\text{Equation}}\hfill & & & & \mathbf{\text{Method}}\hfill \\ \text{\#1}\hfill & & & x=2\hfill & & & & \text{Vertical line}\hfill \\ \text{\#2}\hfill & & & y=4\hfill & & & & \text{Horizontal line}\hfill \\ \text{\#3}\hfill & & & \text{−}x+2y=6\hfill & & & & \text{Intercepts}\hfill \\ \text{\#4}\hfill & & & 4x-3y=12\hfill & & & & \text{Intercepts}\hfill \\ \text{\#5}\hfill & & & y=4x-2\hfill & & & & \text{Slope–intercept}\hfill \\ \text{\#6}\hfill & & & y=\text{−}x+4\hfill & & & & \text{Slope–intercept}\hfill \end{array}$$

Equations #1 and #2 each have just one variable. Remember, in equations of this form the value of that one variable is constant; it does not depend on the value of the other variable. Equations of this form have graphs that are vertical or horizontal lines.

In equations #3 and #4, both $x$ and $y$ are on the same side of the equation. These two equations are of the form $Ax+By=C$. We substituted $y=0$ to find the x-intercept and $x=0$ to find the y-intercept, and then found a third point by choosing another value for $x$ or $y$.

Equations #5 and #6 are written in slope–intercept form. After identifying the slope and y-intercept from the equation we used them to graph the line.

This leads to the following strategy.

Graph and Interpret Applications of Slope–Intercept

Many real-world applications are modeled by linear equations. We will take a look at a few applications here so you can see how equations written in slope–intercept form relate to real-world situations.

Usually when a linear equation models a real-world situation, different letters are used for the variables, instead of x and y. The variable names remind us of what quantities are being measured.

The cost of running some types business has two components—a fixed cost and a variable cost. The fixed cost is always the same regardless of how many units are produced. This is the cost of rent, insurance, equipment, advertising, and other items that must be paid regularly. The variable cost depends on the number of units produced. It is for the material and labor needed to produce each item.

Use Slopes to Identify Parallel Lines

The slope of a line indicates how steep the line is and whether it rises or falls as we read it from left to right. Two lines that have the same slope are called parallel lines. Parallel lines never intersect.

We say this more formally in terms of the rectangular coordinate system. Two lines that have the same slope and different y-intercepts are called parallel lines. See Figure 4.27.

What about vertical lines? The slope of a vertical line is undefined, so vertical lines don’t fit in the definition above. We say that vertical lines that have different x-intercepts are parallel. See Figure 4.28.

Let’s graph the equations $y=\mathrm{-2}x+3$ and $2x+y=\mathrm{-1}$ on the same grid. The first equation is already in slope–intercept form: $y=\mathrm{-2}x+3$. We solve the second equation for $y$:

$$\begin{array}{ccc}\hfill 2x+y& =\hfill & \mathrm{-1}\hfill \\ \hfill y& =\hfill & \mathrm{-2}x-1\hfill \end{array}$$

Graph the lines.

Notice the lines look parallel. What is the slope of each line? What is the y-intercept of each line?

$$\begin{array}{cccccccccc}\hfill y& =\hfill & mx+b\hfill & & & & & \hfill y& =\hfill & mx+b\hfill \\ \hfill y& =\hfill & \mathrm{-2}x+3\hfill & & & & & \hfill y& =\hfill & \mathrm{-2}x-1\hfill \\ \hfill m& =\hfill & \mathrm{-2}\hfill & & & & & \hfill m& =\hfill & \mathrm{-2}\hfill \\ \hfill b& =\hfill & 3,\text{(0, 3)}\hfill & & & & & \hfill b& =\hfill & \mathrm{-1},\text{(0, −1)}\hfill \end{array}$$

The slopes of the lines are the same and the y-intercept of each line is different. So we know these lines are parallel.

Since parallel lines have the same slope and different y-intercepts, we can now just look at the slope–intercept form of the equations of lines and decide if the lines are parallel.

Use Slopes to Identify Perpendicular Lines

Let’s look at the lines whose equations are $y=\frac{1}{4}x-1$ and $y=\mathrm{-4}x+2$, shown in Figure 4.29.

These lines lie in the same plane and intersect in right angles. We call these lines perpendicular.

What do you notice about the slopes of these two lines? As we read from left to right, the line $y=\frac{1}{4}x-1$ rises, so its slope is positive. The line$y=\mathrm{-4}x+2$ drops from left to right, so it has a negative slope. Does it make sense to you that the slopes of two perpendicular lines will have opposite signs?

If we look at the slope of the first line, $m_1=\frac{1}{4}$, and the slope of the second line, $m_2=\mathrm{-4}$, we can see that they are negative reciprocals of each other. If we multiply them, their product is $\mathrm{-1}.$

$$\begin{array}{c}{m}_1·m_2\hfill \\ \frac{1}{4}\left(\mathrm{-4}\right)\hfill \\ -1\hfill \end{array}$$

This is always true for perpendicular lines and leads us to this definition.

We were able to look at the slope–intercept form of linear equations and determine whether or not the lines were parallel. We can do the same thing for perpendicular lines.

We find the slope–intercept form of the equation, and then see if the slopes are negative reciprocals. If the product of the slopes is $\mathrm{-1}$, the lines are perpendicular. Perpendicular lines may have the same y-intercepts.

Key Concepts

• The slope–intercept form of an equation of a line with slope $m$ and y-intercept, $\left(0,b\right)$ is, $y=mx+b$.
• Graph a Line Using its Slope and y-Intercept
  1. Find the slope-intercept form of the equation of the line.
  2. Identify the slope and y-intercept.
  3. Plot the y-intercept.
  4. Use the slope formula $m=\frac{\text{rise}}{\text{run}}$ to identify the rise and the run.
  5. Starting at the y-intercept, count out the rise and run to mark the second point.
  6. Connect the points with a line.
• Strategy for Choosing the Most Convenient Method to Graph a Line: Consider the form of the equation.
  • If it only has one variable, it is a vertical or horizontal line.
    $x=a$ is a vertical line passing through the x-axis at $a$.
    $y=b$ is a horizontal line passing through the y-axis at $b$.
  • If $y$ is isolated on one side of the equation, in the form $y=mx+b$, graph by using the slope and y-intercept.
    Identify the slope and y-intercept and then graph.
  • If the equation is of the form $Ax+By=C$, find the intercepts.
    Find the x- and y-intercepts, a third point, and then graph.
• Parallel lines are lines in the same plane that do not intersect.
  • Parallel lines have the same slope and different y-intercepts.
  • If m₁ and m₂ are the slopes of two parallel lines then $m_1=m_2.$
  • Parallel vertical lines have different x-intercepts.
• Perpendicular lines are lines in the same plane that form a right angle.
  • If $m_1\text{and}{m}_2$ are the slopes of two perpendicular lines, then $m_1·m_2=\mathrm{-1}$ and $m_1=\frac{\mathrm{-1}}{m_2}$.
  • Vertical lines and horizontal lines are always perpendicular to each other.

Practice Makes Perfect

Recognize the Relation Between the Graph and the Slope–Intercept Form of an Equation of a Line

In the following exercises, use the graph to find the slope and y-intercept of each line. Compare the values to the equation $y=mx+b$.

$$y=3x-5$$

$$y=4x-2$$

$$y=\text{−}x+4$$

$$y=\mathrm{-3}x+1$$

$$y=-\frac{4}{3}x+1$$

$$y=-\frac{2}{5}x+3$$

Identify the Slope and y-Intercept From an Equation of a Line

In the following exercises, identify the slope and y-intercept of each line.

Graph a Line Using Its Slope and Intercept

In the following exercises, graph the line of each equation using its slope and y-intercept.

Choose the Most Convenient Method to Graph a Line

In the following exercises, determine the most convenient method to graph each line.

Graph and Interpret Applications of Slope–Intercept

Use Slopes to Identify Parallel Lines

In the following exercises, use slopes and y-intercepts to determine if the lines are parallel.

Use Slopes to Identify Perpendicular Lines

In the following exercises, use slopes and y-intercepts to determine if the lines are perpendicular.

Everyday Math

Writing Exercises

Self Check

ⓐ After completing the exercises, use this checklist to evaluate your mastery of the objectives of this section.

ⓑ After looking at the checklist, do you think you are well-prepared for the next section? Why or why not?