document.write( "Question 117247: Find an equation of the lines containing the given points:\r
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Algebra.Com's Answer #85279 by jim_thompson5910(35256)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
First lets find the slope through the points (\"-1\",\"1\") and (\"5\",\"-5\")\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\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: is the first point (\"-1\",\"1\") and is the second point (\"5\",\"-5\"))\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"m=%28-5-1%29%2F%285--1%29\" Plug in \"y%5B2%5D=-5\",\"y%5B1%5D=1\",\"x%5B2%5D=5\",\"x%5B1%5D=-1\" (these are the coordinates of given points)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"m=+-6%2F6\" Subtract the terms in the numerator \"-5-1\" to get \"-6\". Subtract the terms in the denominator \"5--1\" to get \"6\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"m=-1\" Reduce\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So the slope is\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now let's use the point-slope formula to find the equation of the line:\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 one of the given points\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-1=%28-1%29%28x--1%29\" Plug in \"m=-1\", \"x%5B1%5D=-1\", and \"y%5B1%5D=1\" (these values are given)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"y-1=%28-1%29%28x%2B1%29\" Rewrite \"x--1\" as \"x%2B1\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"y-1=-x%2B%28-1%29%281%29\" Distribute \"-1\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"y-1=-x-1\" Multiply \"-1\" and \"1\" to get \"-1\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"y=-x-1%2B1\" Add \"1\" to both sides to isolate y\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"y=-x%2B0\" Combine like terms \"-1\" and \"1\" to get \"0\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"y=-x\" Remove the zero terms \r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So the equation of the line which goes through the points (\"-1\",\"1\") and (\"5\",\"-5\") is: \"y=-x\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The equation is now in \"y=mx%2Bb\" form (which is slope-intercept form) where the slope is \"m=-1\" and the y-intercept is \"b=0\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Notice if we graph the equation \"y=-x\" and plot the points (\"-1\",\"1\") and (\"5\",\"-5\"), we get this: (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=-x\" through the points (\"-1\",\"1\") and (\"5\",\"-5\")\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Notice how the two points lie on the line. This graphically verifies our answer.
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