What is the equation of a straight line? Describe what all the terms within the equation do.

The equation of a straight line is: y = mx + c
There is a 'y term', y, and an 'x term', x.
The gradient of the line, m, is the slope of the straight line. The larger the value of m, the steeper the slope.
The 'y-intercept', c, is the point that the straight line crosses the y axis (at x=0), when the line is drawn on an x-y graph. If c=0, the straight line passes through the 'origin'.

NS
Answered by Nick S. Maths tutor

3840 Views

See similar Maths GCSE tutors

Related Maths GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Find the roots for the quadratic equation x^2 +2x-3 = 0


When will I use this in my everyday life?


Ayo is 7 years older than Hugo. Mel is twice as old as Ayo. The sum of their three ages is 77 Find the ratio of Hugo's age to Ayo's age to Mel's age.


Solve x^​2​ - 10x + 21 = 0 through the following methods: Factorisation, Completing the Square and using the Quadratic Formula


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning