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 

