<img src="https://d5nxst8fruw4z.cloudfront.net/atrk.gif?account=iA1Pi1a8Dy00ym" style="display:none" height="1" width="1" alt="" />

4.5: Graphs Using Slope-Intercept Form

Difficulty Level: At Grade Created by: CK-12

Learning Objectives

At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Identify the slope and y\begin{align*}y-\end{align*}intercept of equations and graphs.
• Graph an equation in slope-intercept form.
• Understand what happens when you change the slope or intercept of a line.
• Identify parallel lines from their equations.

Vocabulary

Terms introduced in this lesson:

slope-intercept form
rise
run
parallel lines

Teaching Strategies and Tips

Use Examples 1 and 2 to make observations such as:

• m<0\begin{align*}m < 0\end{align*} when a line slants downward and m>0\begin{align*}m > 0\end{align*} when it slants upward.
• m=0\begin{align*}m = 0\end{align*} when a line is horizontal.
• b<0\begin{align*}b < 0\end{align*} when the y\begin{align*}y-\end{align*}intercept is below the x\begin{align*}x-\end{align*}axis and b>0\begin{align*}b > 0\end{align*} when it’s above the x\begin{align*}x-\end{align*}axis.
• b=0\begin{align*}b = 0\end{align*} when a line passes through the origin.

Use the slope-intercept method to graph lines as an alternative to plotting and joining two intercepts.

With a graphing utility, demonstrate the effects on a line when changing m\begin{align*}m\end{align*} and b\begin{align*}b\end{align*} one at a time in an equation in slope-intercept form. Make observations such as:

• The larger the m\begin{align*}m\end{align*}, the steeper the line.
• Negative slopes can also represent steep lines. The smaller the m\begin{align*}m\end{align*} (more negative), the steeper the line.
• Slopes approximately equal to zero represent lines that are almost horizontal.
• Changing the intercept shifts a line up/down.
• Parallel lines have the same slope but different y\begin{align*}y-\end{align*}intercepts.

Error Troubleshooting

In Example 2, use the marked lattice points and/or intercepts in the slope calculation for each line. Using these points allows students to obtain exact answers. See also Review Questions, Problems 2 and 3.

Notes/Highlights Having trouble? Report an issue.

Color Highlighted Text Notes

Show Hide Details
Description
Tags:
Subjects: