There are a number of ways of stating an equation for a straight line. Previously, we saw slope-intercept form and we will see others in future lessons. Now, we'll discover the value of writing equations in standard form.
The standard form of a linear equation is
$Ax+By=C$Ax+By=C
where $A$A, $B$B, and $C$C are all integers and the value of $A$A is positive, that is, $A>0$A>0.
When we are given an equation in standard form, we can either graph using intercepts or rearrange it to one of our other forms.
The standard form of a line is great for identifying both the $x$x and $y$y intercepts.
For example, the line $2x+3y=6$2x+3y=6
The $x$x intercept happens when the $y$y value is $0$0.
$2x+3y$2x+3y | $=$= | $6$6 |
$2x+3\left(0\right)$2x+3(0) | $=$= | $6$6 |
$2x$2x | $=$= | $6$6 |
$x$x | $=$= | $3$3 |
The $y$y intercept happens when the $x$x value is $0$0.
$2x+3y$2x+3y | $=$= | $6$6 |
$2\left(0\right)+3y$2(0)+3y | $=$= | $6$6 |
$3y$3y | $=$= | $6$6 |
$y$y | $=$= | $2$2 |
If we don't want to graph using intercepts, we can also rearrange the equation to slope-intercept form. Let's look at rearranging between the two forms.
Express the equation $4x+6y=12$4x+6y=12 in slope-intercept form.
Think: We need to solve for $y$y to get the equation to the form $y=mx+b$y=mx+b.
Do: To solve for $y$y, we need to reverse the operations to get $y$y by itself.
$4x+6y$4x+6y | $=$= | $12$12 | Start with the given equation |
$6y$6y | $=$= | $-4x+12$−4x+12 | Undo addition by subtracting $4x$4x from both sides |
$y$y | $=$= | $\frac{-4x+12}{6}$−4x+126 | Undo multiplication by dividing by $6$6 on both sides |
$y$y | $=$= | $\frac{-2}{3}x+2$−23x+2 | Simplify |
Reflect: $y$y is isolated, so the linear equation $4x+6y=12$4x+6y=12 is $y=\frac{-2}{3}x+2$y=−23x+2 in slope-intercept form.
As a mathematical convention, we are often asked to give our answer in standard form. Let's look at rearranging to standard form.
Express the equation $y=\frac{-3}{4}x-5$y=−34x−5 in standard form.
Think: We need get to the form $Ax+By=C$Ax+By=C, where $A$A, $B$B and $C$C are integers and $A>0$A>0.
Do: We need to ensure there are no non-integer coefficients and that $A$A is positive.
$y$y | $=$= | $\frac{-3}{4}x-5$−34x−5 | Start with the given equation |
$4y$4y | $=$= | $-3x-20$−3x−20 | Clear the fraction by multiplying by $4$4 |
$3x+4y$3x+4y | $=$= | $-20$−20 | Add $3x$3x to both sides to get the x and y terms to the same side |
Reflect: We now have something of the form $Ax+By=C$Ax+By=C, where $A$A, $B$B and $C$C are integers and$A>0$A>0, so the linear equation $y=\frac{-3}{4}x-5$y=−34x−5 is $3x+4y=-20$3x+4y=−20 in standard form.
Express the following equations in standard form.
$y=6x-5$y=6x−5
$y=\frac{6x}{5}-6$y=6x5−6
Consider the line given by the equation: $5x-3y=-15$5x−3y=−15
Solve for $x$x-value of the $x$x-intercept of the line.
Solve for $y$y-value of the $y$y-intercept of the line.
Hence, graph the equation of the line.
A line has slope $\frac{5}{7}$57 and passes through the point $\left(-3,-4\right)$(−3,−4).
By substituting into the equation $y=mx+b$y=mx+b, find the value of $b$b for this line.
Write the equation of the line in standard form.
For a function that models a relationship between two quantities, interpret key features of graphs and tables in terms of the quantities, and sketch graphs showing key features given a verbal description of the relationship. Key features include: intercepts; intervals where the function is increasing, decreasing, positive, or negative; relative maximums and minimums; symmetries; end behavior; and periodicity.
Graph functions expressed symbolically and show key features of the graph, by hand in simple cases and using technology for more complicated cases.
Graph linear and quadratic functions and show intercepts, maxima, and minima.
Write a function defined by an expression in different but equivalent forms to reveal and explain different properties of the function.
Construct linear and exponential functions, including arithmetic and geometric sequences, given a graph, a description of a relationship, or two input-output pairs (include reading these from a table).