Big Ideas Math: Modeling Real Life, Grade 8
BI
Big Ideas Math: Modeling Real Life, Grade 8 View details
5. Graphing Linear Equations in Standard Form
Continue to next subchapter

Exercise 14 Page 171

What information can you learn from the slope-intercept form of an equation?

Practice makes perfect
Equations written in slope-intercept form follow a specific format. y= mx+ b In this form, m represents the slope of the line and b represents the y-intercept.

Identifying the Slope and y-intercept

Since the given equation is not in slope-intercept form, let's rewrite it so that it will be easier to identify the slope and y-intercept.
1/4x+3/4y=1
1/4x+3/4y-1/4x=1-1/4x
3/4y=1-1/4x
â–Ľ
Simplify
3/4y* 4/3=(1-1/4x)* 4/3
y* 3/4* 4/3=(1-1/4x)* 4/3
y* 1=(1-1/4x )* 4/3
y* 1=1* 4/3-1/4x * 4/3
y* 1=1* 4/3-1/4 * 4/3* x
y* 1= 1* 4/3- 4/4* 3* x
y* 1= 1* 4/3-1/3x
y=4/3-1/3x
y=- 1/3x+4/3
Below we have highlighted the slope m and y-intercept b. y= - 1/3x+ 4/3 The slope is - 13. The y-intercept is 43, so the graph crosses the y-axis at the point (0, 43).

Graphing the Equation

A slope of - 13 means that for every 3 units we move in the positive horizontal direction, we move 1 unit in the negative vertical direction. m= - 1/3 ⇔ rise/run=-1/3 To graph the equation, plot the y-intercept and then use the slope to find another point on the line.