document.write( "Question 130982: find the equation of the line containing a given pair of points.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "the equation of the line is y= ???
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Algebra.Com's Answer #95619 by jim_thompson5910(35256)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
First lets find the slope through the points (\"-2\",\"-7\") and (\"-9\",\"-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 (\"-2\",\"-7\") and is the second point (\"-9\",\"-5\"))\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"m=%28-5--7%29%2F%28-9--2%29\" Plug in \"y%5B2%5D=-5\",\"y%5B1%5D=-7\",\"x%5B2%5D=-9\",\"x%5B1%5D=-2\" (these are the coordinates of given points)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"m=+2%2F-7\" Subtract the terms in the numerator \"-5--7\" to get \"2\". Subtract the terms in the denominator \"-9--2\" to get \"-7\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"m=-2%2F7\" Reduce\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So the slope is\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"m=-2%2F7\"\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--7=%28-2%2F7%29%28x--2%29\" Plug in \"m=-2%2F7\", \"x%5B1%5D=-2\", and \"y%5B1%5D=-7\" (these values are given)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"y%2B7=%28-2%2F7%29%28x--2%29\" Rewrite \"y--7\" as \"y%2B7\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"y%2B7=%28-2%2F7%29%28x%2B2%29\" Rewrite \"x--2\" as \"x%2B2\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"y%2B7=%28-2%2F7%29x%2B%28-2%2F7%29%282%29\" Distribute \"-2%2F7\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"y%2B7=%28-2%2F7%29x-4%2F7\" Multiply \"-2%2F7\" and \"2\" to get \"-4%2F7\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"y=%28-2%2F7%29x-4%2F7-7\" Subtract \"7\" from both sides to isolate y\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"y=%28-2%2F7%29x-53%2F7\" Combine like terms \"-4%2F7\" and \"-7\" to get \"-53%2F7\" (note: if you need help with combining fractions, check out this solver)\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 which goes through the points (\"-2\",\"-7\") and (\"-9\",\"-5\") is:\"y=%28-2%2F7%29x-53%2F7\"\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=-2%2F7\" and the y-intercept is \"b=-53%2F7\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Notice if we graph the equation \"y=%28-2%2F7%29x-53%2F7\" and plot the points (\"-2\",\"-7\") and (\"-9\",\"-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=%28-2%2F7%29x-53%2F7\" through the points (\"-2\",\"-7\") and (\"-9\",\"-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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