This online calculator rewrites an equation of a line of the general form
a x + b y = c
into the slope intercept form y = m x + B.
The importance of the slope intercept form of a line lies in the fact that the slope m and the y intercept B of the line are easily identified and here are the steps to follow:
1) Solve the general equation a x + b y = c for y
b y = - a x + c
for b not equal to zero, we divide all terms by the coefficient b.
y = - (a / b) x + c / b
2) Compare the above equation to the slope intercept form y = m x + B and identify m and B as
m = - a / b and B = c / b
Numerical Example
Find slope and the y intercept of the line given by the equation 2 y + 3 x = 6
Solution to the Numerical Example
Solve the equation for y
2 y = - 3 x + 6
y = - (3/2) x + 3
Compare the above equation to the slope intercept for y = m x + B to find
the slope m = - 3 / 2
and the y intercept
B = 3
