For a line to be in slope-intercept form, what must be true about y?

For a line to be in slope-intercept form, it must be expressed as ( y = mx + b ), where ( m ) represents the slope of the line and ( b ) represents the y-intercept. This format requires that ( y ) is isolated on one side of the equation.

The need for ( y ) to be isolated means that the equation should clearly show its value as dependent on ( x ) and the constants involved. This characteristic allows for easier interpretation and graphing of linear relationships as it directly gives the slope and intercept, which are key features of a linear equation.

While it is true that ( y ) can be positive or negative and does not need to be zero, isolating ( y ) is essential to confirming the slope-intercept form. Each of the other options misrepresents the requirements of slope-intercept form, as they impose unnecessary restrictions that do not align with the standard form of a linear equation. Thus, the understanding that ( y ) must be isolated is crucial for correctly identifying and utilizing the slope-intercept form.