intercept equation takes the form y = mx + b, where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept.
Let’s say that we know that a certain line has a slope of 5 (which is the same as ) and a y-intercept of 3.
The equation of the line would be y = 5x + 3. You could graph this line simply by looking at this form of
the equation. First, draw the y-intercept, (0, 3). Next, plug in a number for x and solve for y to get a
coordinate pair of a point on the line. Now connect the point you just found with the y-intercept you
already drew, and voilà, you have a line. If you want more points, you can create a table such as this one:
x y–2 –7–1 –20 31 8Take a look at the finished product:
One way the SAT can test your understanding of lines is to show you a graph and ask you which equation
describes that graph.