9th grade · Math · Unit 4 of 17
Linear Relations
Slope, intercepts and graphs
What your child practices
Finding slope from points and graphs, reading y = mx + b, finding intercepts, deciding whether a point is on a line, spotting parallel lines, and using rates of change in stories.
Alaska content standards learning standard: F-IF.6; F-IF.7; F-LE.2 · rate of change and key features of linear functions
How we explain it
Children can open this short lesson before they practice.
- A line has the equation y = mx + b.
- The slope m is rise ÷ run. The y-intercept b is where the line crosses the y-axis.
- Find the slope from two points on the line.
Example: A line goes through (0, 1) and (2, 5). What is its slope? Rise: 5 − 1 = 4. Run: 2 − 0 = 2. Slope: 4 ÷ 2 = 2. Answer: 2 (so y = 2x + 1)
Linear Relations in Alaska
In the Alaska content standards, this is unit 4 of 17 in 9th grade Math, after Multi-Step Equations and before Statistics in Society.
Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.
Source: Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
What is the slope of the line through (-1, 2) and (1, 0)?
answer box
-1
Hint: slope = rise ÷ run = (0 − 2) ÷ (1 − (−1)) = −2 ÷ 2 = −1.
Question 2
Find the slope of the line through (1, 3) and (3, 4).
- -2
- 1/2
- 2
- -1/2
1/2
Hint: rise = 1, run = 2, so slope = 1/2.
Question 3
What is the y-intercept of y = 7x − 7?
answer box
-7
Hint: In y = mx + b, the y-intercept is b. Here b = −7.
Question 4
Which equation has slope 5 and a y-intercept of −7?
- y = -7x + 5
- y = 5x − 7
- y = 5x + 7
- y = -5x − 7
y = 5x − 7
Hint: Use y = mx + b with m = 5 and b = −7: y = 5x − 7.
Question 5
Is the point (4, 9) on the line y = 2x + 3?
- No
- Yes
No
Hint: Substitute x = 4: y = 2(4) + 3 = 11. This is not 9.
Question 6
What is the x-intercept of y = 3x − 6?
answer box
2
Hint: At the x-intercept, y = 0. Solve 3x − 6 = 0, so x = 2.