What is a characteristic of a linear equation?

A characteristic of a linear equation is that its graph is a straight line. This is fundamental to the definition of linear equations, which can be expressed in the form (y = mx + b), where (m) represents the slope and (b) is the y-intercept. The nature of a linear equation guarantees that for any value of (x), there is a corresponding single value of (y), resulting in a straight-line graph when plotted on a coordinate plane.

The straight-line graph indicates a constant rate of change, defined by the slope, making linear equations distinct from other types of equations that can produce curves or complicated shapes. This property holds true regardless of the specific values of (m) and (b); as long as both remain constant, the graph will always reflect a linear relationship.