Graphing an Equation in Slope-Intercept Form
Waianae Kahananui
Algebra 1
EDU 214: Preparing Teachers to Use Technology
Learning Objectives
Objectives: Essential Question:
CCSD Algebra 1 3.6: To graph linear equations in slope- If given a linear function in slope-intercept form,
intercept form. y= mx + b, what does m and b represent?
Learning Target For Today:
I can graph a line when given a linear function in slope-
intercept form. I can also identify the y-intercept and
slope of a linear function in slope-intercept form.
Scenario
● $20 - $6 for the taxi means $14 left
1) You are visiting New York
for mileage.
City and want to catch a
taxi to sight see. You
have $20 allotted to ● Since each mile costs $3, we will divide
travel each way to the 14 by 3.
sight. A taxi costs $6 for
the ride, plus $3 for every ● 14 / 3 = 4.66
mile you travel. How
many miles can you ● We can travel 4 whole miles
travel to sight see?
How else could we have figured this out?
Lesson Overview
● Review plotting points
● Practice plotting points
● New vocabulary for slope-intercept form
● Practice identifying slope and y-intercepts of a linear function
● Practice graphing in slope-intercept form
● Blooket activity
● Real world applications of slope-intercept form
Review: Plotting Points in a Graph
Term Definition Image/Example
Coordinate Plane A plane spanned by the x-axis
and y-axis in which the
coordinates of a point are its
distances from the two axes.
X-Axis The horizontal number line
across the coordinate plane.
Y-Axis The vertical number line through
the coordinate plane.
Origin The center of the coordinate
plane at the intersection of the X
and Y axis, (0,0)
Review: Plotting Points in a Graph
Term Definition Image/Example
Ordered Pair Two numbers written in a certain
order; particularly, a point written
as (x, y).
X-Coordinate The x value in a point (x, y),
giving the horizontal offset from
the origin.
Y-Coordinate The y value in a point (x, y),
giving the vertical offset from the
origin.
Quadrant One of four parts of the
coordinate plane divided by the
two axes. Numbered counter-
clockwise from upper-right, as I,
II, III, and IV.
Review: Steps to Plotting Points in a Graph
1) Identify your ordered pair.
2) Starting at the origin, count the distance (2, 3)
indicated by the x coordinate in units on the x-
axis. A positive number means you’re
counting to the right, a negative number
means you’re counting to the left.
3) Starting where you left off, count the distance
indicated by the y coordinate in unit up or
down. A positive number means you’re
counting up, a negative number means you’re
counting down.
Plotting Points Practice
Click on the following links for practice:
1) Stock the shelves. (easy)
2) Stars. (easy)
3) NFL Logos. (easy)
4) Desmos Marble Slide (advanced)
Let’s Practice Plotting Points
Plot the red point at (3, 2)
Plot the blue point at (-3, -2)
Plot the green point at (3, -2)
New Vocabulary
Term Definition Image/Example
X-Intercept The x-coordinate of a point
where a line, curve, or surface
intersects the x-axis.
Y-Intercept The y-coordinate of a point
where a line, curve, or surface
intersects the y-axis.
Slope The steepness of the line. This
can be calculated by finding the
ratio of the vertical change
between two points to the
horizontal change between two
points. We call this rise over run.
Let’s Practice
1) What is the x-intercept?
2) What is the y-intercept?
3) What is the slope of this line? Remember, rise over run.
Let’s Practice
1) What is the x-intercept?
1.5
2) What is the y-intercept?
3) What is the slope of this line? Remember, rise over run.
-4/6, or -2/3
Slope-Intercept Form
Slope-intercept form is y = mx + b where m is the slope of the line and b
is the point of intersection with the y-axis.
Let’s Practice
Identify the y-intercept and slope of each
1) y= 3x + 7 equation. List your answers in the following
format:
1) Y intercept = ??? Slope = ???
2) y= 4/3x - 2 2) Y intercept = ??? Slope = ???
3) Y intercept = ??? Slope = ???
3) y= 1/2x
Let’s Practice
Identify the y-intercept and slope of each
1) y= 3x + 7 equation. The answers are as follows:
1) Y intercept = 7 Slope = 3
2) Y intercept = -2 Slope = 4/3
2) y= 4/3x - 2 3) Y intercept = 0 Slope = 1/2
3) y= 1/2x
Steps to Graphing Slope-Intercept Form
To graph the line:
1) Identify the y-intercept (b) from the
linear equation y=mx+b
Y = 2x - 2
2) Plot a point at (0, b) on the y-axis.
3) Count the rise (numerator) from
the slope. If the slope is positive,
count the rise up. If the slope is
negative, count the rise down.
4) Then ALWAYS count the run
(denominator) to the right.
If the slope is an integer, the denominator
is 1.
Your Turn
To graph the line:
1) Identify the y-intercept (b) from the
linear equation y=mx+b
Y = 1/2x + 2
2) Plot a point at (0, b) on the y-axis.
3) Count the rise (numerator) from
the slope. If the slope is positive,
count the rise up. If the slope is
negative, count the rise down.
4) Then ALWAYS count the run
(denominator) to the right.
If the slope is an integer, the denominator
is 1.
Steps to Graphing Slope-Intercept Form
To graph the line:
1) Identify the y-intercept (b) from the
linear equation y=mx+b
Y = 1/2x + 2
2) Plot a point at (0, b) on the y-axis.
3) Count the rise (numerator) from
the slope. If the slope is positive,
count the rise up. If the slope is
negative, count the rise down.
4) Then ALWAYS count the run
(denominator) to the right.
If the slope is an integer, the denominator
is 1.
Let’s Review
Click on the blooket link in the bigbluebutton chat for some fun review.
Scenario ● $5 - $1 for the taxi means $4 left for
mileage. Our starting point and y-
intercept is 4.
1) You are visiting New York
City and want to catch a ● We spend $1 per 1 mile. Therefore
taxi to sight see. You our slope is -1/1, or -1.
have $5 allotted to travel
each way to the sight. A
We can travel 4
taxi costs $1 for the ride,
miles to sight see.
plus $1 for every mile you
travel. How many miles
can you travel to sight
see?
Real World Applications
● Length of loan payment
calculations
● Taxi travel
● Salary calculation when paid on
a commission table
● Amusement parks where you
pay to get in as well as pay for
each ride
● Any situation where you have
one independent variable and
one dependent variable.