If a linear equation has a negative slope, as x increases, y ___?

If a linear equation has a negative slope, as x increases, y ___?

• A. True
• B. False
• C. It depends on intercept
• D. Not determinable

Answer: (A)

A negative slope means the line falls as you move to the right. So as x increases, y decreases. The intercept only shifts the line up or down; it doesn’t change the direction of the change in y. For any linear equation with negative slope, increasing x makes y go down by an amount equal to the slope times the change in x. For example, y = -2x + 3: when x increases by 1, y decreases by 2. Therefore the statement is true.

A negative slope means the line falls as you move to the right. So as x increases, y decreases. The intercept only shifts the line up or down; it doesn’t change the direction of the change in y. For any linear equation with negative slope, increasing x makes y go down by an amount equal to the slope times the change in x. For example, y = -2x + 3: when x increases by 1, y decreases by 2. Therefore the statement is true.