document.write( "Question 743199: I am having a difficult time with this question. A line contains the points (1, 2) and (a, -4) If the line has the slope m=3, what is the value of a? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #452830 by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)\"\" \"About 
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A line contains the points (1, 2) and (a, -4) If the line has the slope m=3,
\n" ); document.write( "what is the value of a?
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "we can use the slope formula: \"%28%28y2-y1%29%29%2F%28%28x2-x1%29%29\" = m
\n" ); document.write( "assign the given values as follows
\n" ); document.write( "x1=1, y1=2
\n" ); document.write( "x2=a, y2=-4
\n" ); document.write( "m=3
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "so we have:
\n" ); document.write( "\"%28%28-4-2%29%29%2F%28%28a-1%29%29\" = 3
\n" ); document.write( "Combine the numerator, multiply both sides by the denominator, and you have:
\n" ); document.write( "-6 = 3(a-1)
\n" ); document.write( "-6 = 3a - 3
\n" ); document.write( "-6 + 3 = 3a
\n" ); document.write( "-3 = 3a
\n" ); document.write( "a = -1
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "See if that works
\n" ); document.write( "\"%28%28-4-2%29%29%2F%28%28-1-1%29%29\" = \"%28-6%29%2F%28-2%29\" = +3
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "Did I make this understandable to you? C \n" ); document.write( "
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