document.write( "Question 250242: I am having trouble with how to find the equation of the line.
\n" ); document.write( "Here is the problem:
\n" ); document.write( "Find the equation of the line parallel to 2x+4y=9 and passing through the point (6,-2).\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "If someone could walk me through the steps on how to find the answer i would really appreciate it i have a final in two days!
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Algebra.Com's Answer #182172 by PRMath(133)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let's take this a step at a time:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "You want a line parallel to 2x+4y =9. So the first thing you have to know is lines that are parallel have the SAME slope. \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Therefore, you have to find the slope for the equation, 2x + 4y = 9. How can you do that? \r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Let's change the equation to the y = mx + b format (the slope intercept form of a line) where \"m\" is the slope. If we want to put the equation into y = mx + b format, we have to solve for \"y\". SO here goes:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "2x+ 4y = 9 (your original equation)
\n" ); document.write( "4y = -2x + 9 (subtracted 2x from both sides to isolate the y)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "y = \"-2x%2F4\" + \"9%2F4\" (divided both sides by 4 to isolate the y)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "y = \"-1%2F2x\" + \"9%2F4\" (simplified the fraction of \"-2%2F4\" to \"-1%2F2\")\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now we can see that the slope of the line is \"-1%2F2\"}. Therefore, any line parallel to that line must ALSO have a slope of \"-1%2F2\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now to the next step:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Your new line must also go thru the point (6, -2)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "When you know the point that a line must go thru and the slope you want, then you just \"plug\" this info into the point/slope form of a line. The point slope form of a line is:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"%28y+-+y%5B1%5D%29\" = \"m%28x++-+x%5B1%5D%29\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "SO let's plug in our info:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "We want a slope of \"-1%2F2\" and we want it to go thru point (6, -2)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "y - -2 = \"-1%2F2\"(x - 6) \r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "y - -2 is really y + 2 so let's rewrite the above and then do the math.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "y + 2 = \"-1%2F2\"(x - 6) If your teacher wants the answer in \"point/slope\" form, you are finished at this step. If the teacher wants the answer in slope/intercept form, then you have to do more thinking. You'd have to do this:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "y + 2 = \"-1%2F2\"(x - 6) (equation in point/slope form)
\n" ); document.write( "y + 2 = \"-1%2F2x\" + 3 (distributed \"-1%2F2\")
\n" ); document.write( "y = \"-1%2F2x\" + 3 - 2 (subtracted 2 from both sides of the equation)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "y = \"-1%2F2x\" + 1 (equation in slope intercept form)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "I think that's everything. I hope it helps you and good luck on your final. :-)
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