EQUATIONS OF

STRAIGHT LINES
AIM: UNDERSTAND THE
GRADIENT AND INTERCEPT OF
A STRAIGHT LINE AND
EQUATIONS OF THE FORM
y=mx + c

The gradient is 2
because the line
slopes upwards 2 for
every one square
across

12
11
10
9
8
7
6

The equation of the line is

y = 2x + 1

2 up

5
4
3

1 across

Intercept is 1

1
00

What is the gradient

now?
The gradient is still 2

12
11
10
9
8
7
6

The equation of the line is

y = 2x + 1

4 up

5
4
3
2

Intercept is 1

2 across

1
00

The gradient is 4
because the line
slopes upwards 4 for
every one square
across

12
11
10
9
8

4 up

7
6
5

Intercept is 3
The equation of the line is
y = 4x + 3

1 across

4
3
2
1
00

The gradient is 3
because the line
slopes upwards 3 for
every one square
across

12
11
10
9
8
7
6

The equation of the line is

y = 3x + 2
Intercept is 2

3 up

5
4
3

1 across

2
1
00

The gradient is
because the line
slopes upwards for
every one square
across

12
11
10
9
8
7

1 up

Intercept is 5
The equation of the line is
y=x+5

2 across

4
3
2
1
00

The gradient is
because the line
slopes upwards for
every one square
across
Intercept is 6

12
11
10
9
8
7

2 up

6
5

The equation of the line is

y=x+6

3 across

4
3
2
1
00

12
11

Intercept is10
The gradient is -2
because the line
slopes downwards 2
for every one square
across
The equation of the line is
y = -2 x + 10
or
y= 10 2x

10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3

2 down

2
1
00

1 across
1

12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
00

12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
00

12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
00