Graph of a Linear Function

Click on the flashcard to see the answer



What is a linear function?

A linear function is a function that creates a straight line when graphed on a coordinate plane.

What is the general form of a linear equation?

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

What does the slope of a line represent?

The slope represents the steepness of the line and the direction in which it increases or decreases.

What is the y-intercept of a linear function?

The y-intercept is the point where the line crosses the y-axis.

How do you determine the slope from two points on a graph?

Subtract the y-coordinates and divide by the difference of the x-coordinates: (y2-y1)/(x2-x1).

What is the slope of a horizontal line?

The slope of a horizontal line is 0.

What is the slope of a vertical line?

The slope of a vertical line is undefined.

How can you graph a linear function from an equation?

By identifying the slope and y-intercept, plot the y-intercept on the y-axis, then use the slope to find another point and draw a line through both points.

What happens to the graph of a line if the slope is positive?

The line rises from left to right.

What happens to the graph of a line if the slope is negative?

The line falls from left to right.

What point does every line pass through if the equation is y = x?

The line passes through the origin, point (0,0).

What does it mean if two lines on a graph are parallel?

They have the same slope but different y-intercepts.

What does it mean if two lines on a graph intersect?

They have different slopes and cross each other at one point.

How do you find the x-intercept from a linear equation?

Set y to 0 in the equation and solve for x.

What is the graph of y = x known as?

The graph is known as the identity line.