document.write( "Question 392234: How do I write an equation pASSING THROUGH TWO GIVEN POINTS IN SLOPE-INTERCEPT FORM? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #278421 by MathLover1(20850)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
example: \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Find the equation of the line that passes through the points (–2, 4) and (1, 2).\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " Well, if I have two points on a straight line, I can always find the slope; that's what the slope formula is for.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \"slope+m+=+-2%2F3\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " Now I have the slope and two points. I know I can find the equation (by \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "solving first for \"\"b\"\") if I have a point and the slope. So I need to pick \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "one of the points (it doesn't matter which one), and use it to solve for \"b\". \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Using the point (–2, 4), I get:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \"y+=+mx+%2B+b\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \"y+=+-%282%2F3%29%28-2%29+%2B+b\"
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( " \"4+=+4%2F3+%2B+b\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \"4+%96+4%2F3+=+b\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \"12%2F3+%96+4%2F3+=+b\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \"+b+=+8%2F3\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " ...so \r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"y+=+-%282%2F3%29x+%2B+8%2F3\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " On the other hand, if I use the point (1, 2), I get:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \"y+=+mx+%2B+b\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \"2+=+-%282%2F3%29%281%29+%2B+b\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( " \"2+=+-%282%2F3%29+%2B+b\"
\n" ); document.write( " \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \"+2+%2B+2%2F3+=+b\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \"+6%2F3+%2B+2%2F3+=+b\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \"+b+=+8%2F3\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " So it \"doesn%27t\"\"+matter\" which point I choose. Either way, the answer is the same:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \"y+=+-%282%2F3%29x+%2B+8%2F3\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "As you can see, once you have the slope, it doesn't matter which point you use in order to find the line equation. The answer will work out the same either way.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "in general, we have\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "the points (x1, y1) and (x2, y2)\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " slope \"m+=+%28y1-y2%29%2F%28x1-x2%29\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"y+=+mx+%2B+b\"............
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" );