Slope-intercept form writes a line as y = mx + b, where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept. To graph it, plot the y-intercept, then use the slope as rise over run to find a second point and draw the line. See a full worked example with y = 2x + 1.
Graphing from slope-intercept form
Slope-intercept form writes a line as y = mx + b, where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept. This form makes graphing fast: start at the y-intercept, then use the slope to find a second point.
Worked example: y = 2x + 1
The y-intercept is (0, 1) — plot that point first. The slope is 2, which means rise 2, run 1: from (0, 1), move 1 unit right and 2 units up to land on the next point of the line, (1, 3).
Graphing y = 2x + 1 from its y-intercept, using the slope as rise over run.
Other forms of a linear equation
Slope-intercept form is one of several ways a line can be written. You can also graph using a table of values or a single point and a slope, or general form — every method produces the same line, just starting from different given information.