Final answer:
A linear equation in mathematics represents a straight line on a graph and can be written in the form y = mx + b.
Step-by-step explanation:
In mathematics, a linear equation is a type of equation that represents a straight line on a graph. It can be written in the form y = mx + b, where m is the slope of the line and b is the y-intercept. The slope describes the rate of change between the independent and dependent variables, while the y-intercept is the y-coordinate of the point where the line crosses the y-axis. Any line that is not vertical can be described by a linear equation.