Main content
Algebra 1
Course: Algebra 1 > Unit 5
Lesson 5: Standard form- Intro to linear equation standard form
- Graphing a linear equation: 5x+2y=20
- Clarifying standard form rules
- Graph from linear standard form
- Converting from slope-intercept to standard form
- Convert linear equations to standard form
- Standard form review
© 2023 Khan AcademyTerms of usePrivacy PolicyCookie Notice
Standard form review
Review linear standard form and how to use it to solve problems.
What is the linear standard form?
This is the standard form of linear equations in two variables:
Usually in this form, , , and are all integers.
Want to learn more about standard form? Check out this video.
Finding features and graph from standard equation
When we have a linear equation in standard form, we can find the - and -intercepts of the corresponding line. This also allows us to graph it.
Consider, for example, the equation . If we set , we get the equation , and we can quickly tell that , which means the -intercept is .
In a similar way, we can set to get and find that the -intercept is . Now we can graph the line:
Want to try more problems like this? Check out this exercise.
Converting to standard form
In some cases (for example when solving systems of equations), we might want to bring an equation written in another form to standard form.
Let's bring the equation to standard form:
Want to try more problems like this? Check out this exercise.
Want to join the conversation?
- Doesn't the A in Standard form need to be positive?(27 votes)
- 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.(31 votes)
- 3x-y = -7 or -3x+y = 7 which is correct in standard form?(9 votes)
- 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.(9 votes)
- So- what do a, b, and c represent? I'm still confused on that.(3 votes)
- 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.(12 votes)
- How do i write the equation of a line in standard form when i am given a word problem?(6 votes)
- 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.(6 votes)
- I have a question, in the first graph, it shows 2x + 3y = 12.
Isn't it the other way around?
I tried to see the 2x + 3y in the graph, but it doesn't fit.
Correct me if i'm wrong, but it should be 3x + 2y = 12.
Thanks,
-Math4matt(5 votes) - Im totally lost, where is the "If we set x=0x=0x" coming from? is he guessing numbers?(3 votes)
- 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.(7 votes)
- 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(1 vote)- If you really need help, clean up your question so that people can read it.(10 votes)
- What is general form? Is it the same as standard form or is it different?(2 votes)
- 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.(8 votes)
- 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.(4 votes)- 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.(3 votes)
- 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?(4 votes)