Equation of a Straight Line

The equation of a straight line is usually written this way:

y = mx + b

(or "y = mx + c" in the UK see below)

What does it stand for?


Slope (or Gradient)	Y Intercept

y = how far up

x = how far along

m = Slope or Gradient (how steep the line is)

b = the Y Intercept (where the line crosses the Y axis)

How do you find "m" and "b"?

b is easy: just see where the line crosses the Y axis.
m (the Slope) needs some calculation:

m = Change in YChange in X

Knowing this we can work out the equation of a straight line:

Example 1

m = 21 = 2

b = 1 (where the line crosses the Y-Axis)

So: y = 2x + 1

With that equation you can now ...

... choose any value for x and find the matching value for y

For example, when x is 1:

y = 2×1 + 1 = 3

Check for yourself that x=1 and y=3 is actually on the line.

Or we could choose another value for x, such as 7:

y = 2×7 + 1 = 15

And so when x=7 you will have y=15

Example 2

m = −31 = −3

b = 0

This gives us y = −3x + 0
We do not need the zero!

So: y = −3x

Example 3: Vertical Line

What is the equation for a vertical line?
The slope is undefined ... and where does it cross the Y-Axis?

In fact, this is a special case, and you use a different equation, not "y=...", but instead you use "x=...".

Like this:

x = 1.5

Every point on the line has x coordinate 1.5,
that is why its equation is x = 1.5

Rise and Run

Sometimes the words "rise" and "run" are used.

Rise is how far up
Run is how far along

And so the slope "m" is:

m = riserun

You might find that easier to remember

Now Play With The Graph !

You can see the effect of different values of m (the slope) and b(the y intercept) at Explore the Straight Line Graph

Other Forms

We have been looking at the "slope-intercept" form. The equation of a straight line can be written in many other ways.

Another popular form is the Point-Slope Equation of a Straight Line.

Footnote

Country Note:

Different Countries teach different "notation" (as sent to me by kind readers):

In the US, Australia, Canada, Eritrea, Iran, Mexico, Portugal, Philippines and Saudi Arabia the notation is:	y = mx + b
In the UK, Australia (also), Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Egypt, Germany, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Kuwait, Malaysia, Malawi, Malta, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Turkey, UAE, Zambia and Zimbabwe	y = mx + c
In Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Brazil, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ethiopia, France, Lebanon, Netherlands, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Norway, Romania, South Korea, Spain, Tunisia and Viet Nam:	y = ax + b
In Azerbaijan, China, Finland, Russia and Ukraine:	y = kx + b
In Greece:	ψ = αχ + β
In Italy:	y = mx + q
In Japan:	y = mx + d
In Cuba and Israel:	y = mx + n
In Romania:	y = gA + C
In Latvia and Sweden:	y = kx + m
In Serbia and Slovenia:	y = kx + n

In your country:	let us know!