document.write( "Question 449033: Identify the slope of the line passing through the pair of points (5,2) and (−2, 1). \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #308895 by MathLover1(20849)\"\" \"About 
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Solved by pluggable solver: Finding the Equation of a Line
First lets find the slope through the points (\"5\",\"2\") and (\"-2\",\"1\")
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\n" ); document.write( " \"m=%28y%5B2%5D-y%5B1%5D%29%2F%28x%5B2%5D-x%5B1%5D%29\" Start with the slope formula (note: (\"x%5B1%5D\",\"y%5B1%5D\") is the first point (\"5\",\"2\") and (\"x%5B2%5D\",\"y%5B2%5D\") is the second point (\"-2\",\"1\"))
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\n" ); document.write( " \"m=%281-2%29%2F%28-2-5%29\" Plug in \"y%5B2%5D=1\",\"y%5B1%5D=2\",\"x%5B2%5D=-2\",\"x%5B1%5D=5\" (these are the coordinates of given points)
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\n" ); document.write( " \"m=+-1%2F-7\" Subtract the terms in the numerator \"1-2\" to get \"-1\". Subtract the terms in the denominator \"-2-5\" to get \"-7\"
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\n" ); document.write( " \"m=1%2F7\" Reduce
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\n" ); document.write( " So the slope is
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\n" ); document.write( " \"m=1%2F7\"
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\n" ); document.write( "Now let's use the point-slope formula to find the equation of the line:
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\n" ); document.write( " ------Point-Slope Formula------
\n" ); document.write( " \"y-y%5B1%5D=m%28x-x%5B1%5D%29\" where \"m\" is the slope, and (\"x%5B1%5D\",\"y%5B1%5D\") is one of the given points
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\n" ); document.write( " So lets use the Point-Slope Formula to find the equation of the line
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\n" ); document.write( " \"y-2=%281%2F7%29%28x-5%29\" Plug in \"m=1%2F7\", \"x%5B1%5D=5\", and \"y%5B1%5D=2\" (these values are given)
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\n" ); document.write( " \"y-2=%281%2F7%29x%2B%281%2F7%29%28-5%29\" Distribute \"1%2F7\"
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\n" ); document.write( " \"y-2=%281%2F7%29x-5%2F7\" Multiply \"1%2F7\" and \"-5\" to get \"-5%2F7\"
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\n" ); document.write( " \"y=%281%2F7%29x-5%2F7%2B2\" Add \"2\" to both sides to isolate y
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\n" ); document.write( " \"y=%281%2F7%29x%2B9%2F7\" Combine like terms \"-5%2F7\" and \"2\" to get \"9%2F7\" (note: if you need help with combining fractions, check out this solver)
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\n" ); document.write( " Answer:
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\n" ); document.write( " So the equation of the line which goes through the points (\"5\",\"2\") and (\"-2\",\"1\") is:\"y=%281%2F7%29x%2B9%2F7\"
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\n" ); document.write( " The equation is now in \"y=mx%2Bb\" form (which is slope-intercept form) where the slope is \"m=1%2F7\" and the y-intercept is \"b=9%2F7\"
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\n" ); document.write( " Notice if we graph the equation \"y=%281%2F7%29x%2B9%2F7\" and plot the points (\"5\",\"2\") and (\"-2\",\"1\"), we get this: (note: if you need help with graphing, check out this solver)
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\n" ); document.write( " Graph of \"y=%281%2F7%29x%2B9%2F7\" through the points (\"5\",\"2\") and (\"-2\",\"1\")
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\n" ); document.write( " Notice how the two points lie on the line. This graphically verifies our answer.
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