Chapter 1: Problem 20
Find the slope and \(y\) -intercept. $$y=3$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The slope of the line \(y=3\) is 0, and its y-intercept is 3.
Step by step solution
01
Determine the form of equation
The equation of the line is given as \(y=3\). This can be rewritten in the form \(y = mx + b\) where, in this case, \(m\) is the coefficient of \(x\) and \(b\) is the constant. For your equation, it means \(y=0x+3\).
02
Identify the slope (m)
The slope \(m\) is the coefficient before the \(x\). In the equation \(y=0x+3\), \(m\) corresponds to 0. So, the slope of the line \(y=3\) is 0.
03
Identify the y-intercept (b)
The y-intercept \(b\) is the constant value in the equation, which is the point where the line crosses the y-axis. In the equation \(y=0x+3\), \(b\) corresponds to 3. So, the y-intercept of the line \(y=3\) is 3.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Slope
The slope of a line is a measure of its steepness and direction. In mathematical terms, it is calculated as the change in the y-value divided by the change in the x-value between two distinct points on the line. This is often described as "rise over run."
When identifying the slope from an equation in the form of \( y = mx + b \), the slope \( m \) is the coefficient multiplied by \( x \).
When identifying the slope from an equation in the form of \( y = mx + b \), the slope \( m \) is the coefficient multiplied by \( x \).
- If the slope is positive, the line rises as it moves from left to right.
- If the slope is negative, the line falls as it moves from left to right.
- A horizontal line, such as \( y = 3 \), has a slope of 0, meaning there is no rise or fall. The line remains constant across all x-values.
- Conversely, a vertical line has an undefined slope, as the run would be zero.
Y-intercept
The y-intercept is an important aspect of linear equations, as it defines where the line crosses the y-axis. This is the point at which the value of \( x \) is zero.
In the equation \( y = mx + b \), the y-intercept is denoted by the constant \( b \).
In the equation \( y = mx + b \), the y-intercept is denoted by the constant \( b \).
- The y-intercept represents the starting point of a line when plotted on a graph, especially in the context of linear situations.
- For instance, in the equation \( y = 3 \), the y-intercept is 3, indicating that the line crosses the y-axis at the point (0, 3).
- The y-value of the intercept gives a fixed point through which the line will pass, regardless of the slope.
Equation of a Line
The equation of a line is a mathematical expression used to describe a straight line in Cartesian coordinates. It is commonly expressed in the format \( y = mx + b \), known as the slope-intercept form.
This form is especially useful because it provides both the slope and the y-intercept, two key characteristics of a line.
This form is especially useful because it provides both the slope and the y-intercept, two key characteristics of a line.
- By rewriting an equation to this form, you can easily identify if a line is horizontal, vertical, or at an incline.
- In an equation like \( y = 3 \), although it seems simplified, it actually fits the form \( y = 0x + 3 \), revealing a slope of 0 and a y-intercept of 3.
- Understanding the equation of a line allows for the graphing of linear relationships and provides insight into how two variables are interconnected.