Introduction to Slopes and Intercepts

The coordinate plane is made of two axes.

The x-Axis is the horizontal (left to right) line.

The y-Axis is the vertical (up and down) line.

Always written in the form (x,y)

They tell us WHERE the point is on the coordinate plane.

The x-value tells us to move left or right

The y-value tells us to move up or down

• Where it crosses the y-axis is the y-intercept.

• Where it crosses the x-axis is the x-intercept.

• How STEEP it is is called the SLOPE.

• Can be stated TWO WAYS

• ONE: just the number where is crosses the y-axis. In this case -2.

• TWO: the coordinates of where it crosses. In this case (0,-2).

• Can be stated TWO WAYS

• ONE: just the number where is crosses the x-axis. In this case 4.

• TWO: the coordinates of where it crosses. In this case (4,0).

UP from left to right

DOWN from left to right

HORIZONTAL line

VERTICAL line