Question

Slope Equations
What is the equation of the line that passes through the point (0,-4) and has a slope of 5?

y = 5x – 4
y= - 4x – 5
y= -5x +4
y=2x - 4

Answer 1

Linear Equations

Linear equations are typically organized in slope-intercept form:

$y=mx+b$

• m = slope
• b = y-intercept (the value of y when x=0)

Solving the Question

We're given:

• m = 5
• The line passes through the point (0,-4)

Because the slope of the line is 5, we know that the m value in y=mx+b has to be 5. This rules out all the options except for the first, which is the only equation in which the m vaue is 5.

On top of that, we know that the y-intercept occurs when x=0. Given that the line passes through the point (0,-4), we know that the y-intercept is -4.

The equation in the first option tells us this as well, as it has -4 as the b value in y=mx+b.

Answer

y = 5x - 4