Activity (Process)

Graphing a Line Using its Slope and y-Intercept

When a linear equation is in (or can be rewritten in) slope-intercept form y=mx+by = mx + b, the line can be graphed efficiently using this six-step procedure:

  1. Find the slope-intercept form of the equation of the line (solve for yy if necessary).
  2. Identify the slope and y-intercept from the equation: mm is the slope and (0,b)(0, b) is the y-intercept.
  3. Plot the y-intercept on the coordinate plane.
  4. Use the slope formula m=riserunm = \frac{\text{rise}}{\text{run}} to determine the rise and the run.
  5. Starting at the y-intercept, count out the rise and run to locate a second point on the line.
  6. Connect the two points with a straight line and extend it in both directions.

This method is more direct than plotting three arbitrary points because the y-intercept provides an immediate starting point and the slope tells exactly how far to move vertically and horizontally to find another point.

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Updated 2026-04-24

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