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Course: Algebra (all content) > Unit 3
Lesson 6: Graphing slope-intercept equationsGraphing slope-intercept form
Learn how to graph lines whose equations are given in the slope-intercept form y=mx+b.
If you haven't read it yet, you might want to start with our introduction to slope-intercept form.
Graphing lines with integer slopes
Let's graph .
Recall that in the general slope-intercept equation , the slope is given by and the -intercept is given by .
Therefore, the slope of is and the -intercept is .
In order to graph a line, we need two points on that line. We already know that is on the line.
Additionally, because the slope of the line is , we know that the point is also on the line.
Check your understanding
Graphing lines with fractional slope
Let's graph .
As before, we can tell that the line passes through the -intercept , and through an additional point .
While it is true that the point is on the line, we can't plot points with fractional coordinates as precisely as we draw points with integer coordinates.
We need a way to find another point on the line whose coordinates are integers. To do that, we use the fact that in a slope of , increasing by units will cause to increase by units.
This gives us the additional point .
Check your understanding
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