SOLUTION: step by step instructions for what is the equation of the line that contains the points with (x,y)coordinates (-3,7) and (5,-1)

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Question 242056: step by step instructions for what is the equation of the line that contains the points with (x,y)coordinates (-3,7) and (5,-1)
Answer by solver91311(24713) About Me  (Show Source):
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What you ask cannot be done. You cannot write "the" equation of a line that contains a given set of points. That is because there are an infinite number of representations of such a line. The best you can do is write "an" equation of the desired line. Herewith the steps of procedure for writing an equation of a line through any two given points and .

Step 1:

Write out the two-point form for the equation of a line.



Where and are the coordinates of the two given points.

Step 2:

Substitute the values of the given points into the general form equation.

Step 3:

Perform all indicated arithmetic and simplify the result of Step 2.

Step 4: (optional unless required by the problem instructions or instructor's directions)

Rearrange the result of Step 3 into an appropriate form, generally either slope-intercept form:



or Standard Form:



Note: Some texts require that A, B, and C be integers.

John