Math 1 · Unit 6 · Lesson 4 · part 1 of 5
The Words We Use
The vocabulary for this lesson, in one place.
Words we use
| Word | Plain English | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| One solution | The lines cross once: different slopes. | The algebra gives x = a number. |
| No solution | Parallel lines: same slope, different y-intercept (Unit 4). They never meet. | The algebra ends in a false line like 0 = 5. |
| Infinitely many solutions | The same line twice: same slope, same y-intercept. Every point on it works. | The algebra ends in an always-true line like 0 = 0. |
| Predict without solving | Put both in y = mx + b and compare m and b. | Different m: one. Same m, different b: none. Same m and b: infinitely many. |
| A strange final line | The variables disappear and a number statement is left. | False means none; true means infinitely many. It is not a mistake. |