Which component of the slope-intercept form y=mx+b represents the y-intercept?

Which component of the slope-intercept form y=mx+b represents the y-intercept?

• A. The slope m
• B. The y-intercept b
• C. The x-intercept
• D. The constant term c

Answer: (B)

In the slope-intercept form y = mx + b, the part that sits as the constant term b sets where the line hits the y-axis. If you plug in x = 0, you get y = m(0) + b = b, so the point where the line crosses the y-axis is (0, b). That value is the y-intercept. The slope m is what tells you how steep the line is, and the x-intercept is found by setting y = 0 and solving for x (x = -b/m if m ≠ 0). The constant term c isn’t part of this form, so it isn’t the y-intercept.

In the slope-intercept form y = mx + b, the part that sits as the constant term b sets where the line hits the y-axis. If you plug in x = 0, you get y = m(0) + b = b, so the point where the line crosses the y-axis is (0, b). That value is the y-intercept. The slope m is what tells you how steep the line is, and the x-intercept is found by setting y = 0 and solving for x (x = -b/m if m ≠ 0). The constant term c isn’t part of this form, so it isn’t the y-intercept.