# Slope-intercept Form

We will learn how to find the slope-intercept form of a line.

The equation of a straight line with slope m and making an intercept b on y-axis is y = mx + b

Let a line AB intersects the y-axis at Q and makes an angle θ with the positive direction of x-axis in anticlockwise sense and OQ = b.

Now we have to find the equation of the straight line AB.

Let P (x, y) be any point on the line AB. Draw PL perpendicular to x-axis and CM perpendicular on PL.

Clearly, <PQM = θ, Since, QM parallel to x-axis.

Since the co-ordinate of p is (x, y) hence, PL = y

PM = PL - ML = PL - OQ = y - b

Again, QM = OL = x

Now form the right angle ∆ PQM, we get,

tan θ = PM/QM = y - b/x

⇒ tan θ = y - b/x

If tan θ = m then we have,

m = y - b/x

⇒ y = mx + b, which is the required equation of the line and satisfied by the co-ordinates of all points on the line AB.

Solved examples on equation of a line in slope-intercept form:

1. Find the equation of a straight line whose slope = -7 and which intersects the y-axis at a distance of 2 units from the origin.

Solution:

Here m = -7 and b = 2. Therefore, the equation of the straight line is y = mx + b ⇒ y = -7x + 2 ⇒ 7x + y – 2 = 0.

2. Find the slope and y-intercept of the straight-line 4x - 7y + 1 = 0.

Solution:

The equation of the given straight line is

4x - 7y + 1 = 0

⇒ 7y = 4x + 1

⇒ y = 4/7x + 1/7

Now, compare the above equation with the equation y = mx + b we get,

m = 4/7 and b =1/7.

Therefore, the slope of the given straight line is 4/7 and its y-intercept = 1/7 units.



Notes:

(i) The equation of a straight line of the form y = mx + b is called its slope-intercept from.

(ii) If m and b are two fixed constants then equation of slope-intercept from y =mx + b represent a fixed line.

(iii) If m is a fixed constant and b is an arbitrary constant then equation of slope-intercept from y =mx + b represent a family of parallel straight lines.

(iv) If b is a fixed constant and m is an arbitrary constant then equation y = mx + b represent a family of straight lines passing through a fixed point.

(v) If m and c both are arbitrary constants the equation y =mx + b represents a variable line.

(vi) A line can cuts off an intercept b from the positive or negative y-axis then b is positive or negative respectively.

(vii) If the line passes through the origin, then 0 = 0m + b ⇒ b = 0. Therefore, the equation of a line passing through the origin is y = mx, where m is the slope of the line.

(viii) If the slope or gradient i.e., m = 0 and y-intercept i.e., b ≠ 0, then equation y = mx + b ⇒ y = 0x + b ⇒ y = b, which represents the equation of a line parallel to x-axis.

So, when m = 0 then the slope-intercept form y = mx + b can be expressed as an equation of a straight line parallel to x-axis.

(ix) When slope and y-intercept is zero (i.e., m = 0 and b = 0) then equation y =mx + b ⇒ y = 0x + 0 ⇒ y = 0, which represents the equation of x-axis.

So, when m = 0 and b = 0 then the slope-intercept form y = mx + b can be expressed as an equation of x-axis.

(x) When the angle of inclination θ = 90°, then slope m = tan 90° = undefined. In this case the line AB will be either parallel to y-axis or will coincide with the y-axis.

So, the slope-intercept form y = mx + b cannot be expressed as an equation of y-axis or the equation of a line parallel to y-axis.

The Straight Line