In the general linear equation y = bx + a, the value of b is called the slope of the line.
The slope b represents the rate at which the value of y changes for a unit change in x. In simpler terms, it tells us how steep the line is and the direction it is going. If b is positive, the line slopes upward, indicating that as x increases, y also increases. Conversely, if b is negative, the line slopes downward, meaning that as x increases, y decreases.
The slope is a fundamental concept in algebra and calculus, often used to analyze and model relationships between variables.