SOLUTION: Find the equation of the line containing the points (4, -2) and (1, 3).

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Question 1142403: Find the equation of the line containing the points (4, -2) and (1, 3).
Found 2 solutions by Alan3354, ikleyn:
Answer by Alan3354(69443)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Find the equation of the line containing the points (4,-2) and (1,3).
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Don't put a space after the comma.
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It's not "the equation" it's an equation.
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There's more than 1 way to find them.
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Find the slope, m
m = diffy/diffx = 5/-3 = -5/3
Then, x-x1 = m*(y-y1) where (x1,y1 is either point.
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x-1 = (-5/3)*(y-3)
That's an equation.
1-x = (5y/3) - 5
That's an equation.
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|x   y   1|
|4  -2   1| = 0
|1   3   1|
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x*(-2*1 - 3*1) - y*(4*1 - 1*1) + 1*(4*3 - 1*-2) = 0
-5x - 3y + 14 = 0

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That's an equation.
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You can check for mistakes.
Sub for x & y in each equation.

Answer by ikleyn(52788)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
First, calculate the slope.


    The formula for the slope of a straight line passing through two given points  (,)  and  (,)  is
        m = .

    Substitute the given data   = 4,   = -2,   = 1,  = 3  into the basic formula

        m =  =  = .


Next, write an equation of the line having the slope    and passing through the given point (4,-2).


    An equation of a straight line in a coordinate plane which has the slope m and passes through the given point  P = (a,b)  is 

        y - b = m*(x-a).     

    Substitute here  m = ,  a = 4,  b = -2,  and you will get

        y - (-2) = ,   or, equivalently,


        y + 4    = .


        Having the equation in this form, you can convert it to any other equivalent form you want.

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See the lesson
    - Equation for a straight line in a coordinate plane passing through two given points
in this site.


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