document.write( "Question 84502: write the equation of the line passing through (8.-4) and (4,6) \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #60848 by jim_thompson5910(35256)\"\" \"About 
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Solved by pluggable solver: Finding the Equation of a Line
First lets find the slope through the points (\"8\",\"-4\") and (\"4\",\"6\")
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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 (\"8\",\"-4\") and (\"x%5B2%5D\",\"y%5B2%5D\") is the second point (\"4\",\"6\"))
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\n" ); document.write( " \"m=%286--4%29%2F%284-8%29\" Plug in \"y%5B2%5D=6\",\"y%5B1%5D=-4\",\"x%5B2%5D=4\",\"x%5B1%5D=8\" (these are the coordinates of given points)
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\n" ); document.write( " \"m=+10%2F-4\" Subtract the terms in the numerator \"6--4\" to get \"10\". Subtract the terms in the denominator \"4-8\" to get \"-4\"
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\n" ); document.write( " \"m=-5%2F2\" Reduce
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\n" ); document.write( " So the slope is
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\n" ); document.write( " \"m=-5%2F2\"
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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--4=%28-5%2F2%29%28x-8%29\" Plug in \"m=-5%2F2\", \"x%5B1%5D=8\", and \"y%5B1%5D=-4\" (these values are given)
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\n" ); document.write( " \"y%2B4=%28-5%2F2%29%28x-8%29\" Rewrite \"y--4\" as \"y%2B4\"
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\n" ); document.write( " \"y%2B4=%28-5%2F2%29x%2B%28-5%2F2%29%28-8%29\" Distribute \"-5%2F2\"
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\n" ); document.write( " \"y%2B4=%28-5%2F2%29x%2B20\" Multiply \"-5%2F2\" and \"-8\" to get \"40%2F2\". Now reduce \"40%2F2\" to get \"20\"
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\n" ); document.write( " \"y=%28-5%2F2%29x%2B20-4\" Subtract \"4\" from both sides to isolate y
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\n" ); document.write( " \"y=%28-5%2F2%29x%2B16\" Combine like terms \"20\" and \"-4\" to get \"16\"
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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 (\"8\",\"-4\") and (\"4\",\"6\") is:\"y=%28-5%2F2%29x%2B16\"
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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=-5%2F2\" and the y-intercept is \"b=16\"
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\n" ); document.write( " Notice if we graph the equation \"y=%28-5%2F2%29x%2B16\" and plot the points (\"8\",\"-4\") and (\"4\",\"6\"), we get this: (note: if you need help with graphing, check out this solver)
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\n" ); document.write( " Graph of \"y=%28-5%2F2%29x%2B16\" through the points (\"8\",\"-4\") and (\"4\",\"6\")
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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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