In the slope-intercept form y = mx + b, what does the letter b represent on the graph?

In the slope-intercept form y = mx + b, what does the letter b represent on the graph?

• A. The slope
• B. The y-intercept
• C. The x-intercept
• D. The origin

Answer: (B)

b is the y-intercept—the point where the line crosses the y-axis. When x = 0, y = b, so the crossing point is (0, b). This value shifts the line up or down without changing its slope (which is determined by m). The x-intercept is where the line crosses the x-axis (where y = 0), a different point that depends on both m and b. The origin is just (0,0) and occurs only if b = 0.

b is the y-intercept—the point where the line crosses the y-axis. When x = 0, y = b, so the crossing point is (0, b). This value shifts the line up or down without changing its slope (which is determined by m). The x-intercept is where the line crosses the x-axis (where y = 0), a different point that depends on both m and b. The origin is just (0,0) and occurs only if b = 0.