16Hit1600
AlgebraMediumSlope plus intercept from standard form

Algebra practice question

When the equation 5x − 2y = 10 is written in the form y = mx + b, what is the value of m + b?

Answer: -2.5 or -5/2

−2y = −5x + 10 gives y = (5/2)x − 5, so m + b = 5/2 − 5 = −5/2.

Common wrong answers

If you answered 0
0 uses m = 5 and b = −5, forgetting to divide the x-term.
If you answered 7.5
7.5 uses b = 5, missing the sign when dividing by −2.
If you answered -2
−2 uses m = 3 from an arithmetic slip.

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