The Algebra Teacher\'s Guide to Reteaching Essential Concepts and Skills

Name Date

WORKSHEET 4.7: IDENTIFYING THE SLOPE ANDY-INTERCEPT

FROM AN EQUATION

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When you are given the equation of a line written in slope-intercept form,y=mx+b,m

stands for the slope andbstands for they-intercept. If the equation is not written in

slope-intercept form, you must rewrite the equation to isolate the variabley.

Example 1:Find the slope andy-intercept of the graph ofy= 7 x− 1. The equation is written in

slope-intercept form. The slope is 7 and they-intercept is−1.

Example 2:Find the slope andy-intercept of the graph of 3 x+ 2 y= 10. This equation must be

rewritten in slope-intercept form.

3 x+ 2 y= 10

− 3 x − 3 x

2 y=− 3 x+ 10

2 y

2

=

− 3 x

2

+

10

2

y=−

3

2

x+5Theslopeis−

3

2

;they-intercept is 5.

DIRECTIONS: Find the slope andy-intercept of each equation.

1. y= 3 x− 2 2.y= 3 x


2. y=

1

2

x− 6 4.y+x= 1

5. y=

3

4

x+ 1 6.y− 2 x− 3 = 0

7. 4 x− 5 y= 10 8. 3 y+ 7 x= 10

CHALLENGE:The graphs of the linesy=x,2x+ 3 y=0,y= 7 x,andx= 7 yall

have something in common. What is it?

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2011 by Judith A. Muschla, Gary Robert Muschla, and Erin Muschla. All rights reserved.