<h3><em>To graph the equation of a line, we plot at least two points whose coordinates satisfy the equation, and then connect the points with a line. We call these equations "linear" because the graph of these equations is a straight line.</em></h3><h3><em /></h3><h3><em>There are two important things that can help you graph an equation, slope and y-intercept.</em></h3><h3><em /></h3><h3><em>Slope</em></h3><h3><em>We're familiar with the word "slope" as it relates to mountains. Skiers and snowboarders refer to "hitting the slopes." On the coordinate plane, the steepness, or slant, of a line is called the slope. Slope is the ratio of the change in the y-value over the change in the x-value. Carpenters and builders call this ratio the "rise over the run." Using any two points on a line, you can calculate its slope using this formula.</em></h3>
