What does the X in y=mx+b mean?

Question

What does the x in y=mx+b mean?

Answer 1

Hi Taylor;

y=mx+b

The x is the first part of the (x,y) coordinate on a graph.

For example, if a point on the graph is (3,2)...

2=m(3)+b

m is the slope of the line which the coordinate is a part of.

b is the y-intercept, the value of y when x=0, (0,b).

Answer 2

The x is the independent variable in the equation.  Meaning whatever x-value you choose, that will determine the y-value.  The linear equation as a whole allows to you to graph the entire function and observe it's behavior, whereas the x variable simply tells you the corresponding y-value for that x-value.