Lesson Equation of a Line in Color

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About rapaljer: Retired Professor of Mathematics from Seminole Community College after 36 years.

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2.01  Linear Graphs, Slope, and the Equation of a Line

College Algebra: One Step at a Time,  Page 209-211:   #18, 20, 21, 22, 24, 27

Other problems will be posted by request!

Dr. Robert J. Rapalje

Seminole Community College

Sanford, FL  32773

 

18.   Find the equation of the line through    and

Solution:    

In order to find the equation of any line, you must have a point (from which to start!) and a slope (a direction in which to go!).  In this case, you are given two points.  The first step is to find the slope between these two points.

Remember the formula for the slope between two points

                    

                    

                    

The slope of the given line is   

Now find the equation of a line with   passing through either of the given points.  It doesn’t matter which point you use.  Let’s use the first point  .

Start with the formula: , where ,    .

                                   

To clear the fraction, multiply by the denominator which is .

                                  

Divide out the :         

Subtract  :                    

Divide by :               

                                   

Be sure to answer the question!  Find the equation of the line 

                                                                                                  

Check your answer by substituting the values of the other point:    to see if

                                                           

                                                           

                                                           

                                                              It checks!!

Final answer :      

 

20.    Find the equation of the line through    and parallel to.

Solution:    

In order to find the equation of any line, you must have a point (from which to start!) and a slope (a direction in which to go!).  In this case, you are given a point, but instead of being given the slope of the line, you are given the equation of a given line that is parallel to it.  Since the lines are parallel, they have the same slope!!

The slope of the given line is   , so the slope of any line parallel to this line is also  .

Now find the equation of a line with   passing through.

Start with the formula: , where ,    .

                                   

                                                               

 

Be sure to answer the question!  Find the equation of the line 

                                                                                                  

Check your answer by substituting   to see if

                                                           

                                                           

                                                           

                                                              It checks!!

Final answer:      

 

21.    Find the equation of the line through    and parallel to.

Solution:    

In order to find the equation of any line, you must have a point (from which to start!) and a slope (a direction in which to go!).  In this case, you are given a point, but instead of being given the slope of the line, you are given the equation of a given line that is parallel to it.  Since the lines are parallel, they have the same slope!!

The slope of the given line is   , so the slope of any line parallel to this line is also  .

Now find the equation of a line with   passing through .

Start with the formula: , where ,    .

                                   

In this problem, you might want to multiply both sides of the equation by the denominator which is 4, and if you do it will be correct!  However, notice that the 4 in the denominator divides out with the other 4 in the product, and the result is just 3.  Isn’t this easier?

                                                               

 

Be sure to answer the question!  Find the equation of the line 

                                                                                                  

Check your answer by substituting   to see if

                                                           

                                                           

                                                           

                                                              It checks!!

Final answer: 

 

 

22.   Find the equation of the line through    and perpendicular to.

Solution:    

In order to find the equation of any line, you must have a point (from which to start!) and a slope (a direction in which to go!).  In this case, you are given a point, but instead of being given the slope of the line, you are given the equation of a given line that is perpendicular to it.  Since the lines are perpendicular, one slope must be the negative reciprocal of the other.

The slope of the given line is   , so the slope of a line perpendicular to this line is must be .

Now find the equation of a line with   passing through.

Start with the formula: , where ,    .

                                   

To clear the fraction, multiply by the denominator which is .

                                  

Divide out the :         

Add  :                        

Divide by :                 

                                           

Be sure to answer the question!  Find the equation of the line 

                                                                                            

Check your answer by substituting   to see if

                                                           

                                                           

                                                           

                                                              It checks!!

Final answer :                                

 

 

24.  Find the equation of the line through    and perpendicular to.

Solution:    

In order to find the equation of any line, you must have a point (from which to start!) and a slope (a direction in which to go!).  In this case, you are given a point, but instead of being given the slope of the line, you are given the equation of a given line.  Your line must be perpendicular to this given line, which means that the given line has a slope which is the negative reciprocal of the slope of the line you need to find.

First you must find the slope of the given line by solving for y in terms of x.   

                       

Add  to each side of the equation:

                            

Divide both sides by -4:

                        

                                 

The slope of the given line is   , so the slope of a line perpendicular to this line is also .

Now find the equation of a line with   passing through.

Start with the formula: , where ,    .

                                   

To clear the fraction, multiply by the denominator which is .

                                  

Divide out the :         

Subtract :                  

Divide by :                 

                                            

Be sure to answer the question!  Find the equation of the line 

                                                                                                                  

Check your answer by substituting   to see if