GED Math : Slope-Intercept Form

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GED Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Slope Intercept Form

Which of the following equations is written in slope-intercept form?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle \small x=\frac{1}{4}y-2

\displaystyle \small 4x-y+2=0

\displaystyle \small 4x-y=-2

\displaystyle \small y=4x+2

Correct answer:

\displaystyle \small y=4x+2

Explanation:

Slope-intercept form is written as \displaystyle \small y=mx+b.

There is only one answer choice in this form:

\displaystyle \small y=4x+2

 

 

Example Question #2 : Linear Algebra

Rewrite the following equation in slope-intercept form.

\displaystyle 2+4y=3x+10

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle x=\frac{4}{3}y-\frac{8}{3}

\displaystyle y=\frac{3}{4}x+2

\displaystyle -3x+4y=8

\displaystyle y=\frac{3}{4}x+32

\displaystyle y=\frac{3}{4}x+3

Correct answer:

\displaystyle y=\frac{3}{4}x+2

Explanation:

The slope-intercept form of a line is: \displaystyle y=mx+b, where \displaystyle m is the slope and \displaystyle b is the y intercept.

Below are the steps to get the equation \displaystyle 2+4y=3x+10 into slope-intercept form.

 

\displaystyle y=\frac{3}{4}x+2

Example Question #2 : Slope Intercept Form

Line

Refer to the above red line. What is its equation in slope-intercept form?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle y = 2x+8

\displaystyle y = 2x-4

\displaystyle y = \frac{1}{2}x-4

\displaystyle y = \frac{1}{2}x+8

Correct answer:

\displaystyle y = 2x+8

Explanation:

First, we need to find the slope of the above line. 

Given two points, \displaystyle (x_{1}, y_{1}), (x_{2}, y_{2}), the slope can be calculated using the following formula:

\displaystyle m = \frac{y_{2}-y_{1}}{x_{2}-x _{1}}

Set \displaystyle x_{1}=-4, y_{1}=x_{2}= 0, y_{2}=8:

\displaystyle m = \frac{8-0}{0-(-4)} = \frac{8}{4} = 2

Second, we note that the \displaystyle y-intercept is the point \displaystyle (0,8)

Therefore, in the slope-intercept form of a line, we can set \displaystyle m = 2 and \displaystyle b = 8:

\displaystyle y = mx+b

\displaystyle y = 2x+8

Example Question #4 : Slope Intercept Form

What is the y-intercept of the line with the following equation:

\displaystyle 2y - 4x = 10x - 20

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle -20

\displaystyle 5

\displaystyle 2

\displaystyle -10

\displaystyle 7

Correct answer:

\displaystyle -10

Explanation:

There are two ways that you can find the y-intercept for an equation.  You could substitute \displaystyle 0 in for \displaystyle x.  This would give you:

\displaystyle 2y - 4*0 = 10*0 - 20

Simplifying, you get:

\displaystyle 2y = -20

\displaystyle y = -10

However, another way to do this is by finding the slope-intercept form of the line.  You do this by solving for \displaystyle y:

\displaystyle 2y = 14x - 20

Just divide everything by \displaystyle 2:

\displaystyle y=7x-10

Remember that the slope-intercept form gives you the intercept as the final constant.  Hence, it is \displaystyle -10 as well!

Example Question #5 : Slope Intercept Form

What is the y-intercept for the following equation:

\displaystyle y + 84x = 157x + 250

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 225

\displaystyle 105

\displaystyle 250

\displaystyle 70

\displaystyle -125

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 250

Explanation:

There are two ways that you can find the y-intercept for an equation.  You could substitute \displaystyle 0 in for \displaystyle x.  This would give you:

\displaystyle y + 84*0 = 157*0 + 250

Simplifying, you get:

\displaystyle y=250

However, another way to do this is by finding the slope-intercept form of the line.  You do this by solving for \displaystyle y.  Indeed, this is very, very easy.  Recall that the slope intercept form is:

\displaystyle y=mx+b

This means that, as written, your equation obviously has \displaystyle b=250.  You don't even have to do all of the simplification!

Example Question #6 : Slope Intercept Form

What is the equation of the line between \displaystyle (0,10) and \displaystyle (4,20)?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle y=mx+b

\displaystyle 2y=4x+10

\displaystyle 10y=4x-2

\displaystyle y=\frac{5}{2}x+10

\displaystyle 10y=4x+20

Correct answer:

\displaystyle y=\frac{5}{2}x+10

Explanation:

In order to figure this out, you should use your slope-intercept formula.  Remember that the y-intercept is the place where \displaystyle x is zero.  Therefore, the point \displaystyle (0,10) gives you your y-intercept.  It is \displaystyle 10.  Now, to find the slope, recall the slope equation, namely:

\displaystyle \frac{rise}{run} = \frac{y_2-y_1}{x_2-x1}

For your points, this would be:

\displaystyle \frac{20-10}{4-0}=\frac{10}{4}=\frac{5}{2}

This is your slope.

Now, recall that the point-slope form of an equation is:

\displaystyle y=mx+b, where \displaystyle m is your slope and \displaystyle b is your y-intercept

Thus, your equation will be:

\displaystyle y=\frac{5}{2}x+10

Example Question #5 : Slope Intercept Form

Which of the following equations has a slope of \displaystyle 4?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle y=2x+2

\displaystyle y=10x+4

\displaystyle 4y-x=20

\displaystyle 3y+10x=100-50x

\displaystyle 2y+2x=10x+75

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 2y+2x=10x+75

Explanation:

In order to compute the slope of a line, there are several tools you can use.  For this question, try to use the slope-intercept form of a line.  Once you get the equation into this form, you basically can "read off" the slope right from the equation!  Recall that the slope-intercept form of an equation is:

\displaystyle y=mx+b

Now, looking at each of your options, you know that you can eliminate two immediately, as their slopes obviously are not \displaystyle 4:

\displaystyle y=10x+4

\displaystyle y=2x+2

The next is almost as easy:

\displaystyle 4y-x=20

When you solve for \displaystyle y, your coefficient value for \displaystyle m is definitely not equal to \displaystyle 4:

\displaystyle y=\frac{1}{4}x+5

Next, \displaystyle 3y+10x=100-50x is not correct either.  When you start to solve, you should notice that \displaystyle x will always have a negative coefficient.  This means that it certainly will not become \displaystyle 4 when you finish out the simplification.

Thus, the correct answer is:

\displaystyle 2y+2x=10x+75

Really, all you have to pay attention to is the \displaystyle x term.  First, you will subtract \displaystyle 2x from both sides:

\displaystyle 2y = 8x+75

Then, just divide by \displaystyle 2, and you will have \displaystyle 4x

Example Question #1 : Slope Intercept Form

Rewrite the equation in slope-intercept form:  \displaystyle \frac{2y}{3} = \frac{1}{2}x+3

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle y= \frac{3}{4}x+ \frac{9}{2}

\displaystyle y=- \frac{1}{2}x+ 3

\displaystyle y=- \frac{1}{2}x+ \frac{9}{2}

\displaystyle y= \frac{3}{4}x+3

\displaystyle y= \frac{1}{2}x+ \frac{9}{2}

Correct answer:

\displaystyle y= \frac{3}{4}x+ \frac{9}{2}

Explanation:

In order to rewrite the equation in slope-intercept form, we will need to multiply the reciprocal of the coefficient in front of y. 

\displaystyle \frac{2y}{3} \cdot \frac{3}{2}=\frac{3}{2} (\frac{1}{2}x+3)

Simplify both sides.

The answer is:\displaystyle y= \frac{3}{4}x+ \frac{9}{2}

Example Question #6 : Slope Intercept Form

Write the equation in slope-intercept form:  \displaystyle 3x-6y = 10

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle y=- \frac{1}{2}x -\frac{5}{3}

\displaystyle y=- \frac{1}{3}x +\frac{5}{6}

\displaystyle y=-2x+5

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

\displaystyle y= \frac{1}{2}x -\frac{5}{3}

Correct answer:

\displaystyle y= \frac{1}{2}x -\frac{5}{3}

Explanation:

The slope-intercept form is:  \displaystyle y=mx+b

Subtract \displaystyle 3x on both sides.

\displaystyle 3x-6y -3x= 10-3x

\displaystyle -6y = -3x+10

Divide by negative six on both sides.

\displaystyle \frac{-6y }{-6}= \frac{-3x+10}{-6}

Simplify both sides.

The answer is:  \displaystyle y= \frac{1}{2}x -\frac{5}{3}

Example Question #1 : Slope Intercept Form

Write the equation in slope-intercept form:   \displaystyle -2x+\frac{y}{3} = 2

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle y=6x+6

\displaystyle y=-\frac{2}{3}x+6

\displaystyle y=-\frac{2}{3}x-\frac{2}{3}

\displaystyle y=\frac{2}{3}x+6

\displaystyle y=-6x+6

Correct answer:

\displaystyle y=6x+6

Explanation:

Slope intercept form is \displaystyle y=mx+b.

Add \displaystyle 2x on both sides.

\displaystyle -2x+\frac{y}{3} +2x= 2+2x

\displaystyle \frac{y}{3} = 2x+2

Multiply by three on both sides.

\displaystyle \frac{y}{3} \cdot 3 =3 (2x+2)

The answer is:  \displaystyle y=6x+6

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