How do you solve linear functions, f(x)=mx+b?

Question

I should remember this from highschool but I don't. I can't learn from the book because I can't ask the book questions. I make math waaaay harder than it actually is. So hopefully someone here can help me get it to click in my brain, then all will be well.

Answer 1

I hated doing this. So i did this. This shows you graphically what happens if you change one of the variables.

http://id.mind.net/~zona/mmts/functionInstitute/linearFunctions/linearFunctions.html

Answer 2

Linear functions are not to be solved, but to be graphed.
It is possible to consider the linear function as an equation in two variables, x and y, which is equal to f(x). in this case for every x there exists a corresponding y, each pair of (x , y) is a solution for this equation. The equation of this type has an infinite number of such these pairs
for example:
suppose that the equation is: y = x - 5
If x = 1 then y = -4
if x = 2 then y = -3 and so on.
In general functions can be considered as equations in more than one variable, which has solutions as ordered pairs, ordered triples and so on according to the number of the used variables

Answer 3

That's not an equation. That defines a function, and you can't solve a function. The function simply is. Maybe you want to graph the function. If so, then draw a line through (0,b) [the y intercept] and (1,b+m) [i.e., go up m for every 1 right you go - that's the definition of the slope m].

Answer 4

you should know the parts first. :)

lets put it this way:

y = mx + b

b is your y-intercept or y-coordinate

[the point on the y-axis where your line will pass through, it is the value where x=0 which gives you a coordinate of (0,b)]


m is your slope

(the rise-over-run [ex: if your m=2/3, u go up 2 units (rise) and move 3 units to the right (run). if your m is a whole number, remember that its denominator is always 1 which means you move 1 unit to the right.][or simply the change in y-over-the change in x] of your equation: helps a lot to determine other points on the line)

Answer 5

I am not sure what your specific question is, so I will start with the definitions:
f(x) is the same as y on a graph
m is the slope of the line (remember rise over run)
x is the x co-ordinate on the graph
and b is ho much up or down the graph is from zero on the y-axis

Answer 6

you can either use substition or linear solving

Like

2x+y=7
-2x+4y=3
= 5y=10
y=2
then plug 2 back in for y in either equation
2x+(2)=7
2x=5
x=5/2

OR subsitutaion
Bring all the X's or all the Y's to one side an plug in
like

2x+y=2 becomes Y=2-2y and plug that into the other equation such as y+2x=5 would be (2-2y)+2x=5 and solve

Answer 7

Simple.

You may solve it using numerical techniques.
Three techniques are:
1. Newton Rapson method
2. Regula Falsi method
3. Mid point method.

Mail me for detailed solution.

RAVI

Answer 8

f(x) = mx + b
f(x) = y
y=mx+b
b is the y coordinate when x=0 (0, b)
x = -b/m when y = 0 (-b/m, 0)
So now you got 2 coordinates; and can even plot a graph easily

Answer 9

I seem to remember that the key was do the same thing on both sides of the equals side.

Nevermind what I said ... Loulabelle is correct =0p...