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AlgebraMediumIntercept from a slope and a point

Algebra practice question

A line in the xy-plane has a slope of −3/2 and passes through the point (4, 1). What is the y-intercept of the line?

Answer: 7

y = (−3/2)x + b. Substitute (4, 1): 1 = −6 + b, so b = 7.

Common wrong answers

If you answered 1
1 is the y-coordinate of the given point, not the intercept.
If you answered 5
5 comes from a slope of −1: 1 = −4 + b. The slope is −3/2, so (−3/2)(4) = −6.
If you answered -5
−5 comes from 1 + (−6), adding the product instead of subtracting it from 1.

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