Which of the following steps is NOT required when isolating b in the slope-intercept formula?

To understand why isolating ( b ) in the slope-intercept formula ( y = mx + b ) does not require the step of isolating ( b ) at the beginning, it’s essential to consider the nature of the equation itself.

In the slope-intercept form, ( y ) represents the dependent variable, ( m ) the slope, ( x ) the independent variable, and ( b ) the y-intercept. The goal of isolating ( b ) generally involves manipulating the equation to solve for ( b ) explicitly. The correct procedure typically involves rearranging the equation after it has been set up, which can include adding or subtracting terms that involve ( y ) or ( mx ).

Isolating ( b ) at the beginning would imply that we try to separate ( b ) before addressing the other terms in the equation, which is not necessary. In fact, the process starts with rearranging the equation so that ( b ) is on one side and all other terms are on the other side. This confirms that steps such as adding the ( mx ) term to both sides or subtracting ( y ) are valid and necessary, but starting by isolating (