Question 1

Doesn't the A in Standard form need to be positive?

Accepted Answer

It depends, often definitions care more about the equation arrangement than the value of it, where A,B and C can be any real number. So, as long as you write it in Ax + By = C, it can be called standard form.

For the safe side, your teacher probably wants the A to be in positive integer value.

As an extra thought, to think about it, you can make an equation of line in many way (infinite way, actually)

Say 2x + 3y = 5
You can make it as:
4x + 6y = 10
-2x -3y = -5
16x + 24y = 40
2x/3 + y = 5/3
and many more!

If you graph this line, all of this create the same line (same slope and x,y intercept), only in different form of equation.

Question 2

3x-y = -7 or -3x+y = 7 which is correct in standard form?

Accepted Answer

Both are acceptable.
But, some textbooks differ on this subject and specify that the lead term must be positive.  So, you should ask your teacher or check your textbook to make sure you pick the right one based on what is expected for your class.

Question 3

How do i write the equation of a line in standard form when i am given a word problem?

Accepted Answer

It depends upon what info the problem gives you.  You need to read it carefully.
Did it give you what looks like 2 ordered pairs?  If yes, then you would:
1)  Find the slope using the x & y values from the ordered pairs.
2)  Use either slope-intercept form or point-slope form to get your initial equation.
3)  Convert your equation to standard form.

Or, did the problem give you a slope (a rate of change) and 1 ordered pair?  If this is the case, then you can just do steps 2 and 3 above.

Hope this helps.

Question 4

Why is it that we can "get rid of" the fraction by multiplying the other terms by its denominator? I guess beyond even that, why is it that when we multiply other terms by the denominator, it "goes away," but the numerator remains as an integer? AND, why is it that the sign of the fraction does not seem to have an impact? For example: y= -1/3x - 9 --> (multiply y and -9 by 3, the denominator,) --> 3y= -x -27 
Why do we not multiply by negative 3? The fraction is a negative, so it seems like we should.

Accepted Answer

Most commonly, we keep the negative with the numerator rather than saying the denominator is negative.  It's just easier.

You could multiply by negative 3, but you end up making sign changes, and often can lead to errors.

We are allowed to multiply the equation by the denominator because the properties of equality let use multiply the equation by any value as long as we do the entire equation.  The result is an equivalent equation to the original one.

Hope this helps.

Question 5

What is y={-\dfrac{1}{3}}x-9y=− 
3
1
​	
 x−9y, equals, minus, start fraction, 1, divided by, 3, end fraction, x, minus, 9 written in standard form?

Accepted Answer

7 easy

Question 6

So- what do a, b, and c represent?  I'm still confused on that.

Accepted Answer

a, b, and c are variables that are "known", so when you are given an equation, you have specific values for a, b, and c.  He gives several examples for specific values.  x and y continue to variables that are "unknown."  So this is the general form of the standard equation of a linear function, Sal notes that they should also be integers.

Question 7

Im totally lost, where is the "If we set x=0x=0x" coming from? is he guessing numbers?

Accepted Answer

If you want to find the y-intercept, you would always set x=0 and solve for y, which is what is happening in the example.

Question 8

What is general form? Is it the same as standard form or is it different?

Accepted Answer

Standard form is:  Ax+By=C 
General form is:  Ax+By+C=0
In both, where A, B, C are real numbers.

Hope this helps.

Question 9

Which ordered pair is a solution of the equation?
�
−
3
=
5
(
�
−
2
)
y−3=5(x−2)y, minus, 3, equals, 5, left parenthesis, x, minus, 2, right parenthesis
Choose 1 answer:
Choose 1 answer:

(Choice A)
A
Only 
(
2
,
3
)
(2,3)left parenthesis, 2, comma, 3, right parenthesis

(Choice B)
B
Only 
(
3
,
2
)
(3,2)left parenthesis, 3, comma, 2, right parenthesis

(Choice C)
C
Both 
(
2
,
3
)
(2,3)left parenthesis, 2, comma, 3, right parenthesis and 
(
3
,
2
)
(3,2)left parenthesis, 3, comma, 2, right parenthesis

(Choice D)
D
Neither

Accepted Answer

If you really need help, clean up your question so that people can read it.

Algebra 1

Course: Algebra 1 > Unit 5

Standard form review

What is the linear standard form?

Finding features and graph from standard equation

Converting to standard form

Want to join the conversation?