What does Y mean in y=mx+b

Question

I know the M is slope X is X-intercept and B is Y-intercept 

Answer 1

The formula y=mx+b describes a line in the Cartesian Coordinate System.

 

A Cartesian coordinate system is a coordinate system that specifies each point uniquely in a plane by a pair of numerical coordinates, which are the signed distances to the point from two fixed perpendicular directed lines, measured in the same unit of length.

 

We call the horizontal axis the x-axis and the vertical axis the y-axis.  For a point (x,y), the horizontal coordinate is x and the vertical coordinate is y.

 

If a point (x,y) is on the line y=mx+b, then you may put the value of x into the formula and determine the value of y.

 

m=slope and b= y-intercept [the point (0,b), where the line crosses the y axis].

 

Answer 2

You're right about m being the slope and b being the y-intercept (which is the point where the line crosses the y-axis).

x and y are the coordinates of the points on the line. They are both variables. So, when x=0, y=b so the point (0,b) is on the line. If x = 1, y = m+b so another point on the line is (1,m+b).

You use the equation to find points on the line. 

I hope this clears up any confusion.

Answer 3

Given the equation of a line in slope-intercept form, which is y = mx + b, the value of m does represent the slope, and b does stand for the y-intercept. Why? Let x = 0 in the equation. Then you have y = m(0) + b = 0 + b = b. This tells you that the value of x is 0 when the line crosses, or intercepts the y-axis.

 

To specifically answer your question, (x, y) can be used to represent any point on the line y = mx + b. This means that x represents the x-coordinate and y represents the y-coordinate of any point on the line y = mx + b. Of course, there are an infinite number of such points because lines go on forever in both directions.