Algebra Practice Test 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

In the equation y = mx + b, the letter 'm' represents the slope of the line. The slope indicates the rate of change of the dependent variable (y) with respect to the independent variable (x). It shows how much y increases or decreases as x changes. Specifically, if the slope is positive, the line rises from left to right, while a negative slope indicates it falls from left to right. The magnitude of the slope is determined by the ratio of the vertical change to the horizontal change between any two points on the line.

Understanding the slope is crucial in various applications, such as interpreting graphs, understanding linear relationships, and solving real-world problems involving relationships between two quantities. The other options pertain to different concepts: the y-intercept, which is represented by 'b', refers to the value of y when x is zero; a point indicates a specific location on the graph; and an asymptote is a line that a curve approaches as it heads towards infinity but never touches.