document.write( "Question 167309: How would I write an equation with a slope of -1/3 \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #123227 by gonzo(654) ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! slope intercept form of a linear equation is y = m*x + b \n" ); document.write( "m is the slope. \n" ); document.write( "b is the y intercept. \n" ); document.write( "if you slope is -1/3, then the equation becomes: \n" ); document.write( "y = -1/3*x + b \n" ); document.write( "since you don't know anything else about the line, that's where you stop. \n" ); document.write( "if you have a point on the line, then you can solve for b. \n" ); document.write( "assume (1,3) is a point on the line. \n" ); document.write( "(x,y) = (1,3) \n" ); document.write( "x = 1 \n" ); document.write( "y = 3 \n" ); document.write( "substitute in your equation for y and x as follows: \n" ); document.write( "y = -1/3*x + b \n" ); document.write( "3 = (-1/3)*(1) + b \n" ); document.write( "this becomes: \n" ); document.write( "3 = -1/3 + b \n" ); document.write( "adding 1/3 to both sides of the equation and it becomes: \n" ); document.write( "3 + 1/3 = b \n" ); document.write( "or: \n" ); document.write( "10/3 = b \n" ); document.write( "---- \n" ); document.write( "your equation now becomes: \n" ); document.write( "y = -1/3x + 10/3 \n" ); document.write( "a graph of this equation looks like: \n" ); document.write( "check below the graph for further comments. \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "your equation is: \n" ); document.write( "y = -1/3x + 10/3 \n" ); document.write( "y intercept is the y value when x = 0. \n" ); document.write( "y = 10/3 = 3 + 1/3 as you might be able to see on the graph. look for the value of y when x = 0. \n" ); document.write( "you should also be able to see that when x = 1, y = 3. \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " |