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.
Arizona Academic Standards learning standard: A1.F-IF.B.6; A1.F-IF.C.7; A1.F-LE.A.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 Arizona
In the Arizona Academic 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: Arizona Department of Education
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 (-3, -3) and (-2, 2)?
answer box
5
Hint: slope = rise ÷ run = (2 − (−3)) ÷ (-2 − (−3)) = 5 ÷ 1 = 5.
Question 2
Find the slope of the line through (0, 1) and (2, 2).
- -1/2
- -2
- 2
- 1/2
1/2
Hint: rise = 1, run = 2, so slope = 1/2.
Question 3
What is the y-intercept of y = 3x − 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 5?
- y = 5x + 5
- y = 5x − 5
- y = -5x + 5
y = 5x + 5
Hint: Use y = mx + b with m = 5 and b = 5: y = 5x + 5.
Question 5
Is the point (3, 15) on the line y = 4x + 3?
- Yes
- No
Yes
Hint: Substitute x = 3: y = 4(3) + 3 = 15. This matches 15.
Question 6
What is the x-intercept of y = 3x − 21?
answer box
7
Hint: At the x-intercept, y = 0. Solve 3x − 21 = 0, so x = 7.