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Equation of a Straight Line
The equation of a straight line is usually written this way:
y = mx + b
(or "y = mx + c" in the UK see
below)
What does it stand for?
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y = how far up
x = how far along
m = Slope or Gradient (how steep the line is)
b = the Y Intercept (where the line crosses the Y axis)
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Knowing this we can work out the equation of a straight line:
Example 1
b = 1
Example 2
b = 0
This gives us y = –3x + 0
We do not need the zero!
Play With It
You can see the effect of different values of m (the slope) and b (the y intercept) at Explore the Straight Line Graph
Country
Note:
Different Countries teach different "notation" (as sent to me by kind readers):
| In the US and Canada the notation is: |
y = mx + b |
| In the UK, Australia, Bahamas, Brunei, India, Ireland, Jamaica, Malaysia, Malta, Nepal, Pakistan, and South Africa: |
y = mx + c |
| In Denmark and Holland: |
y = ax + b |
| In Greece: |
ψ = αχ + β |
| In Italy: |
y = mx + q |
| In Finland and Ukraine: |
y = kx + b |
| In Sweden: |
y = kx + m |
| In Latvia: |
y = jx + t |
| In Romania: |
y = gA + C |
| In Japan: |
y = mx+d |
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| In your country: |
let us know! |
... but it all means the same thing, just different letters.
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