SOLUTION: A line has an x-intercept of 3 and a y-intercept of k and passes through a point (5,8). Find k.

Algebra ->  Functions -> SOLUTION: A line has an x-intercept of 3 and a y-intercept of k and passes through a point (5,8). Find k.       Log On


   



Question 1149757: A line has an x-intercept of 3 and a y-intercept of k and passes through a point (5,8). Find k.

Found 3 solutions by MathLover1, greenestamps, ikleyn:
Answer by MathLover1(20850) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

given:
an x-intercept of 3 =>(3,0)
a y-intercept of k =>(0,k)
passes through a point (5,8)
Find: k
we have two points, so we can find slope:
m=%28y%5B2%5D-y%5B1%5D%29%2F%28x%5B2%5D-x%5B1%5D%29
m=%288-0%29%2F%285-3%29
m=8%2F2
m=4

use slope intercept formula:
y=mx%2Bb where b is y-intercept and m is a slope, substitute both
y=4x%2Bk.......use point, (3,0)
0=4%2A3%2Bk....solve for k
0=12%2Bk
k=-12
then y-intercept of k =>(0,-12)
so, the line is:
y=4x-12







Answer by greenestamps(13200) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


I encourage students to practice being able to solve a problem like this using your UNDERSTANDING of the problem, without the formal algebra. Being able to do that means you really understand the problem.

The given x-intercept is (3,0); the given point is (5,8).

The given point is 2 to the right and 8 above the x-intercept; the slope is 8/2 = 4.

The y-intercept is where x=0; that is 3 units to the left of the x-intercept.

With a slope of 4, 3 units to the left means 12 units down.

12 units down from the x-intercept gives a y value of -12.

Therefore the y-intercept is (0,-12).

ANSWER: k = -12


Answer by ikleyn(52797) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.

They want you find k in this way that the three points, P1= (3,0), P2= (0,k) and P3= (5,8) lie in one line.


It means that      the slope from P1 to P2,  m%5B12%5D = %28k-0%29%2F%280-3%29 = -k%2F3

should be equal to the slope from P2 to P3,  m%5B23%5D = %288-k%29%2F%285-0%29 = %288-k%29%2F5.


It gives you an equation


    -k%2F3 = %288-k%29%2F5


Cross multiply and solve for k 


    -5k = 3*(8-k)

    -5k = 24 - 3k

    -5k + 3k = 24

    -2k      = 24

     k     = %28-24%29%2F2 = -12.    ANSWER

Solved.

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