When you change the intercept in a linear equation, like ( y = mx + b ), it affects where the line meets the y-axis.

What Happens When You Change the Intercept:

• If you increase the intercept (( b )): The line moves up.
• If you decrease the intercept (( b )): The line moves down.

Let’s Look at an Example:

1. In the equation ( y = 2x + 1 ), the intercept is ( 1 ). This means the line crosses the y-axis at the point ( (0, 1) ).
2. In the equation ( y = 2x - 2 ), the intercept is ( -2 ). Here, the line crosses the y-axis at ( (0, -2) ).

You can easily see these changes when you look at a graph!