Math 1 · Unit 3 · Lesson 6
Other Forms of a Line
A light lesson. Standard form, Ax + By = C, is handy for finding both intercepts fast. Point-slope form is a shortcut when you know the slope and one point. The main move with either is to rewrite it into y = mx + b, read m and b, and graph. Slope-intercept form stays the workhorse.
The big idea
A line does not care how it is written. Standard form puts the x and y terms together and is the fastest way to find both intercepts: put x = 0, then y = 0. Point-slope form is Lesson 4 with the point already put in. Both are useful to recognize, but the workhorse is y = mx + b, because it shows the two numbers that do the two jobs. So the one move to master is the rewrite: get y alone with the Unit 1 moves, then read m and b and graph as always.
The parts of this lesson
Each part is its own short page. Go in order, or pick the one you need.
Printables
One page with both forms, the intercept trick, the rewrite moves, and a worked example. Plus a short worksheet with an answer key and a short lesson plan.