What is the general form of a linear function?

The general form of a linear function is represented by the equation y = mx + b. In this equation, 'm' stands for the slope of the line, which indicates how steep the line is, and 'b' represents the y-intercept, which is the point where the line crosses the y-axis. This structure is fundamental in algebra because it allows for easy visualization and understanding of linear relationships between two variables.

When graphing a linear equation, the slope provides insight into the relationship between the independent variable (often x) and the dependent variable (often y). A positive slope indicates that as x increases, y also increases, while a negative slope indicates that as x increases, y decreases. The y-intercept, b, gives a starting point for the line on the graph, allowing for the quick plotting of the line's position.

The other options represent different types of functions. The second choice involves a quadratic function, indicated by the presence of the squared term x^2, which forms a parabola rather than a straight line. The third option represents an exponential function where the variable is in the exponent (ab^x), which exhibits rapid growth or decay instead of a constant rate of change. Lastly, the fourth choice provides a linear