4.1 Writing Equations, knowing m and b

To write a linear equation in slope-intercept form (y = mx + b) when you are given the slope and y-intercept, follow these steps:

1. Identify the slope (m) and the y-intercept (b) of the line from the given information.

2. Plug in the slope (m) and y-intercept (b) into the slope-intercept form equation.

3. Simplify the equation if necessary.

For example, suppose you are given the slope of a line as 3 and the y-intercept as -2. To write the equation in slope-intercept form, follow these steps:

1. The slope is m = 3 and the y-intercept is b = -2.

2. Plug in the slope and y-intercept into the slope-intercept form equation:

y = mx + b

y = 3x - 2

1. Simplify the equation if necessary. In this case, the equation is already in its simplest form.

So the equation of the line with a slope of 3 and a y-intercept of -2 is y = 3x - 2.