What is the standard form for a linear equation?

The standard form for a linear equation is represented as ( y = mx + c ). In this equation, ( m ) represents the slope of the line, which indicates the steepness and direction of the line on a graph. The ( c ) is the y-intercept, which is the point at which the line crosses the y-axis. This equation captures the fundamental relationship where ( y ) changes linearly with ( x ), leading to a straight line when graphed.

The other options represent different types of equations: the second option is a quadratic equation characterized by a parabolic curve due to the ( x^2 ) term, the third option resembles a hyperbolic relationship, and the fourth indicates a logarithmic relationship. Each of these forms leads to different graphical representations and relationships between the variables, while the standard form specifically reflects linear relationships.