SOLUTION: It's been about 2 years since I have done any math and now I'm taking college algebra but I have forgotten how to do some of the stuff. The main problem I can't figure out at the

Question 11165: It's been about 2 years since I have done any math and now I'm taking college algebra but I have forgotten how to do some of the stuff. The main problem I can't figure out at the moment is: a line is vertical and passes through the point (5,2). I know that the line crosses the x-axis on the 5 but I can't figure out the slope or how to put it in the form of y=mx+b.
Answer by Earlsdon(6294) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Well, first of all, a vertical line has an undefined slope. Remember that slope is defined as "rise over run". A vertical line has "rise" but "zero run", so the slope becomes rise over zero and, in math, anything over zero is undefined. As you pointed out though, the line has an x-intercept (x = 5) but no y-intercept.
A horizontal line,on the other hand, has a zero slope.
So you really can't write the equation of a vertical line in the slope-intercept form because a vertical line passes through all values of y, so y is not a component of the equation.
The equation of the vertical line in your problem is just: x = 5
RELATED QUESTIONS
I am looking to go back to college and I have been out of Math for about 10 years.... (answered by unlockmath)

I am having a difficult time with this question, its been 10 years since needing to do... (answered by solver91311)

I am taking Applied Calculus - for the Managerial, Life and Social Sciences. It has been (answered by jim_thompson5910)

Hello, I have been away from Algebra for 5 years and have completely forgotten... (answered by askmemath)

It has been 17 years since I have taken Algebra and now I am taking College Algebra. My... (answered by rapaljer)

Hello there, My name is Michael, I'm 26 years old and I'm planning to go back to... (answered by MathLover1)

I'm taking a elementary and intermediate algebra in college. It's been a very long while... (answered by bucky)

Hello I am just starting back to school and it has been a long time since I've had to (answered by Alan3354)

this is my problem.... "2x − 8y + 15 = 0 write given equation in slope intercept... (answered by solver91311)