Final answer:
In the equation y = mx + b, m represents the slope, which shows the steepness of the line, while b is the y-intercept, the point where the line crosses the y-axis.The slope of a linear equation is represented by the coefficient of x, which describes the steepness of the line.
Step-by-step explanation:
The slope of the linear equation y = mx + b is represented by the coefficient in front of the variable x, which in this case is m. The slope is defined as the rise over the run, illustrating the steepness of the line. In contrast, the term b represents the y-intercept, indicating the point where the line crosses the y-axis when x equals 0.The slope of a linear equation is represented by the coefficient of x, which describes the steepness of the line.