document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=285651>Question 285651</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> It has been a really long time since high school so I am not sure what to do or where to look to learn how to do this!<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Thanks\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Given two points (x1, y1) and (x2, y2), derive the equation of the line that passes through those two points and write<BR>\n" );
document.write( "it in the form y = mx + b. This is called the slope-intercept form of the equation of the line because the two parameters m and b<BR>\n" );
document.write( "represent the slope and y-intercept of the line.  </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #207063 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><B>stanbon(75887)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=207063\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Given two points (x1, y1) and (x2, y2), derive the equation of the line that passes through those two points and write<BR>\n" );
document.write( "it in the form y = mx + b. This is called the slope-intercept form of the equation of the line because the two parameters m and b<BR>\n" );
document.write( "represent the slope and y-intercept of the line. <BR>\n" );
document.write( "----------------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "slope = m = (y2-y1)/(x2-x1)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "------------------------------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The line passes thru (x1,y1) so substitute the point<BR>\n" );
document.write( "values and the slope values into y = mx+b to get:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "y1 = {{y1-y2]/[x2-x1]}[x1] + b<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b = y1 - {{y2-y1]/[x2-x1]}[x1]<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b = y1 - {x1y2-x1y1}/{x2-x1}<BR>\n" );
document.write( "---<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b = [y1(x2-x1) - (x1y2-x1y1]/[x2-x1]<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b = [x2y1-x1y1-x1y2+x1y1]/[x2-x1]<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b = [x2y1-x1y2]/[x2-x1]<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-------------------------------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Equation:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "y = [(y2-y1)/(x2-x1)]x + [x2y1-x1y2]/[x2-x1]<BR>\n" );
document.write( "=================================================<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Cheers,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Stan H. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );