document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1204229>Question 1204229</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> If a line has an x-intercept at x=4 and a y-intercept at y=-2 find its equation in the form y=mx+b. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #840361 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><B>greenestamps(13196)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=greenestamps><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=840361\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "In the equation y=mx+b, b is the y-intercept, which we are given to be -2.  So to find the equation in y=mx+b form, we only need to find the slope m.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "I firmly believe students will enjoy math more if they understand what they are doing instead of plugging numbers into formulas.  I have seen hundreds of cases where students got the wrong value for the slope because they plugged the wrong numbers in the wrong places in the slope formula.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "To find the slope of the line from the given information, we need to determine the slope of the line through the two given points (0,-2) and (4,0).  Instead of plugging numbers into the formula or slope, use the basic concept of slope = rise over run.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "From (0,-2) to (4,0), the run is 4 and the rise is 2, so the slope is 2/4 = 1/2.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "And so the equation of the line in y=mx+b form is<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "y = (1/2)x-2<br><BR>\n" );
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