JAMB UTMEMathematics

The gradient of the line y = 4x − 1 is:

A−1
B1
C4CORRECT
D−4
AI
Toaster Teacher
Why the answer is C, and why the others tempt you.
**The reasoning** The equation is already in the **slope-intercept form**: y = mx + c, where m is the gradient (slope) and c is the y-intercept. In y = 4x − 1: - The coefficient of x is **4** → that's your gradient (m = 4) - The constant term is **−1** → that's where the line crosses the y-axis (c = −1) So the gradient is simply **4**. This means for every 1 unit you move right on the x-axis, the line rises 4 units up. **Why the wrong options tempt you** - **Option A (−1)**: You grabbed the y-intercept instead of the gradient. The −1 tells you where the line crosses the y-axis, not how steep it is. - **Option B (1)**: Maybe you forgot there's a number before x? When you see "4x", don't ignore that 4! - **Option D (−4)**: You took the gradient but added a negative sign that isn't there. The line slopes upward (positive), not downward. **Quick takeaway** In y = mx + c, the number multiplying x is always your gradient—in this case, **4**.
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