ACT Math

Slope-intercept form on ACT Math

October 5, 2026 · 5 min read

Slope-intercept form is y = mx + b. The m is the slope. The b is where the line hits the y-axis. If the equation is not solved for y, solve for y before you read those two numbers. Slope itself is in slope on ACT Math.

Read m and b

y = −2x + 5 has slope −2 and y-intercept 5. A line through (0, 5) with slope −2 is the same line. If you are given a point that is not the intercept, plug x and y into y = mx + b and solve for the missing piece.

When you have a point and a slope and you do not yet care about b, point-slope is faster. That form is in point-slope form. Parallel and perpendicular slopes are in parallel and perpendicular lines.

The bottom line

Get y alone. The coefficient of x is slope. The constant is the y-intercept. Coordinate geometry around this is in coordinate geometry.

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