Linear equations are mathematical expressions that represent straight lines and form the basis of algebra. They are widely used in various fields such as physics, economics, and engineering. Here's a quick overview:
📌 Definition
A linear equation in two variables (x and y) is typically written as:y = mx + b
m
= slope of the lineb
= y-intercept
💡 Tip: The graph of a linear equation is always a straight line, unlike nonlinear equations which produce curves.
🧮 Standard Form
The general form of a linear equation is:Ax + By = C
Where:
A
,B
, andC
are constantsx
andy
are variables
For example:2x + 3y = 6
📈 Graphing
To graph a linear equation:
- Identify the slope and intercept
- Plot the y-intercept on the coordinate plane
- Use the slope to find additional points
- Draw the line through these points
📊 Visual Guide: Explore graphing techniques for a deeper understanding.
🧠 Applications
Linear equations model real-world scenarios like:
- Calculating speed and distance
- Budgeting and cost analysis
- Simple interest calculations
🧩 Challenge: Can you solve this equation? y = 2x + 5
when x = 3
.
📚 Further Reading
For more examples and practice problems:
Visit our Linear Equations Examples page
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