document.write( "Question 93786: write an equation of the line which has the given slope, m, and which passes through the given point. m = -1/2; (8,-5) \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #68324 by jim_thompson5910(35256)\"\" \"About 
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "If you want to find the equation of line with a given a slope of \"-1%2F2\" which goes through the point (\"8\",\"-5\"), you can simply use the point-slope formula to find the equation:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\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 is the given point\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So lets use the Point-Slope Formula to find the equation of the line\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"y--5=%28-1%2F2%29%28x-8%29\" Plug in \"m=-1%2F2\", \"x%5B1%5D=8\", and \"y%5B1%5D=-5\" (these values are given)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"y%2B5=%28-1%2F2%29%28x-8%29\" Rewrite \"y--5\" as \"y%2B5\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"y%2B5=%28-1%2F2%29x%2B%28-1%2F2%29%28-8%29\" Distribute \"-1%2F2\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"y%2B5=%28-1%2F2%29x%2B4\" Multiply \"-1%2F2\" and \"-8\" to get \"4\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"y=%28-1%2F2%29x%2B4-5\" Subtract 5 from both sides to isolate y\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"y=%28-1%2F2%29x-1\" Combine like terms \"4\" and \"-5\" to get \"-1\" \r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Answer:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So the equation of the line with a slope of \"-1%2F2\" which goes through the point (\"8\",\"-5\") is:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"y=%28-1%2F2%29x-1\" which is now in \"y=mx%2Bb\" form where the slope is \"m=-1%2F2\" and the y-intercept is \"b=-1\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Notice if we graph the equation \"y=%28-1%2F2%29x-1\" and plot the point (\"8\",\"-5\"), we get (note: if you need help with graphing, check out this solver)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " Graph of \"y=%28-1%2F2%29x-1\" through the point (\"8\",\"-5\")\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "and we can see that the point lies on the line. Since we know the equation has a slope of \"-1%2F2\" and goes through the point (\"8\",\"-5\"), this verifies our answer.
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