document.write( "Question 16528: Can anyone help me solve this?\r
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document.write( "If the line Kx - 2y = 6 has the same x and y-intercept, what is the value of K?\r
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document.write( "I'm not sure what to do with this.
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document.write( "I substituted zero for x and got
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document.write( "-2y = 6
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document.write( "y = -3\r
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document.write( "which would mean a set of points (0,-3) but how would that be the same
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document.write( "intercept for both x and y.
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document.write( "Any help would be very appreciated. \n" );
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Algebra.Com's Answer #8064 by Earlsdon(6294)![]() ![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! Perhaps a little common sense is required for this problem.\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "If a line has the same x- and y-intercept, then the line has a negative slope and the slope must be -1.\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "How can we say this? If the line had a positive slope the x-intercept would have the opposite sign of the y-intercept, unless, of course, it crossed at the origin.\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now if the x- and y-intercepts are the same value (both positive or both negative), then the line must have a negative slope and, since slope is defined as rise over run, the rise and the run are equal (in absolute value), ergo, the slope is -1. \n" ); document.write( "But how does this find the value of K?\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Well, let;s put your equation into the slope-intercept form.\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Kx - 2y = 6 Add 2y to both sides. \n" ); document.write( "Kx = 2y + 6 Subtract 6 from both sides. \n" ); document.write( "Kx - 6 = 2y Divide both sides by 2. \n" ); document.write( "y = (K/2)x - 6 The slope, m = K/2 = -1, So K = -2\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The given line is: \n" ); document.write( " y = (-1)x - 6 \n" ); document.write( "The x-intercept is: 0 = -x - 6, so x = -6 \n" ); document.write( "The y-intercept is: y = 0 - 6, so y = -6 \n" ); document.write( " |