Linear Equations on a Pool Table

Below is a pool table, with the white cue ball and three colored balls. Your task is to move the sliders for m (slope) and b (y-intercept) around so that there is a line from the white cue ball to each of the colored ones. Record the m and the b for each line.

Questions to consider:
1. What was the m value for each equation? What was different about the red ball's slope than the other ones?
2. Why was the b value the same for every equation?
3. How many of the colored balls would be hit into a pocket, if you only used straight shots?
4. What would happen if the pool table was moved up five units? How about right two units? Could we still do this problem?

Brian Bisignani, July 24, 2008, Created with GeoGebra