SOLUTION: Please Help me. I don't get the formula. If someone could at-least explain the formula that would be great! 1. Referring to the figure, write an equation of the line shown in th

Algebra ->  Linear-equations -> SOLUTION: Please Help me. I don't get the formula. If someone could at-least explain the formula that would be great! 1. Referring to the figure, write an equation of the line shown in th      Log On


   



Question 1048031: Please Help me. I don't get the formula. If someone could at-least explain the formula that would be great!
1. Referring to the figure, write an equation of the line shown in the
graph. Use the slope and y-intercept format: y = mx + b

Figure: http://www.ppstest2.com/images2/AL5003.jpg




Thank you!!!

Answer by MathLover1(20849) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

use two given points:(1,3) and (4,5)
Solved by pluggable solver: Finding the Equation of a Line
First lets find the slope through the points (1,3) and (4,5)


m=%28y%5B2%5D-y%5B1%5D%29%2F%28x%5B2%5D-x%5B1%5D%29 Start with the slope formula (note: (x%5B1%5D,y%5B1%5D) is the first point (1,3) and (x%5B2%5D,y%5B2%5D) is the second point (4,5))


m=%285-3%29%2F%284-1%29 Plug in y%5B2%5D=5,y%5B1%5D=3,x%5B2%5D=4,x%5B1%5D=1 (these are the coordinates of given points)


m=+2%2F3 Subtract the terms in the numerator 5-3 to get 2. Subtract the terms in the denominator 4-1 to get 3



So the slope is

m=2%2F3





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Now let's use the point-slope formula to find the equation of the line:




------Point-Slope Formula------
y-y%5B1%5D=m%28x-x%5B1%5D%29 where m is the slope, and (x%5B1%5D,y%5B1%5D) is one of the given points


So lets use the Point-Slope Formula to find the equation of the line


y-3=%282%2F3%29%28x-1%29 Plug in m=2%2F3, x%5B1%5D=1, and y%5B1%5D=3 (these values are given)



y-3=%282%2F3%29x%2B%282%2F3%29%28-1%29 Distribute 2%2F3


y-3=%282%2F3%29x-2%2F3 Multiply 2%2F3 and -1 to get -2%2F3

y=%282%2F3%29x-2%2F3%2B3 Add 3 to both sides to isolate y


y=%282%2F3%29x%2B7%2F3 Combine like terms -2%2F3 and 3 to get 7%2F3 (note: if you need help with combining fractions, check out this solver)



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Answer:



So the equation of the line which goes through the points (1,3) and (4,5) is:y=%282%2F3%29x%2B7%2F3


The equation is now in y=mx%2Bb form (which is slope-intercept form) where the slope is m=2%2F3 and the y-intercept is b=7%2F3


Notice if we graph the equation y=%282%2F3%29x%2B7%2F3 and plot the points (1,3) and (4,5), we get this: (note: if you need help with graphing, check out this solver)


Graph of y=%282%2F3%29x%2B7%2F3 through the points (1,3) and (4,5)


Notice how the two points lie on the line. This graphically verifies our answer.