SOLUTION: Find an equation of the line containing the given pair of points (-2,-8), (-5,-9)? the equation of the line in slope-intercept form is y=

Algebra ->  Linear-equations -> SOLUTION: Find an equation of the line containing the given pair of points (-2,-8), (-5,-9)? the equation of the line in slope-intercept form is y=      Log On


   

Question 538942: Find an equation of the line containing the given pair of points (-2,-8), (-5,-9)?
the equation of the line in slope-intercept form is y=
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

First let's find the slope of the line through the points and


Note: is the first point . So this means that x%5B1%5D=-2 and y%5B1%5D=-8.
Also, is the second point . So this means that x%5B2%5D=-5 and y%5B2%5D=-9.


m=%28y%5B2%5D-y%5B1%5D%29%2F%28x%5B2%5D-x%5B1%5D%29 Start with the slope formula.


m=%28-9--8%29%2F%28-5--2%29 Plug in y%5B2%5D=-9, y%5B1%5D=-8, x%5B2%5D=-5, and x%5B1%5D=-2


m=%28-1%29%2F%28-5--2%29 Subtract -8 from -9 to get -1


m=%28-1%29%2F%28-3%29 Subtract -2 from -5 to get -3


m=1%2F3 Reduce


So the slope of the line that goes through the points and is m=1%2F3


Now let's use the point slope formula:


y-y%5B1%5D=m%28x-x%5B1%5D%29 Start with the point slope formula


y--8=%281%2F3%29%28x--2%29 Plug in m=1%2F3, x%5B1%5D=-2, and y%5B1%5D=-8


y--8=%281%2F3%29%28x%2B2%29 Rewrite x--2 as x%2B2


y%2B8=%281%2F3%29%28x%2B2%29 Rewrite y--8 as y%2B8


y%2B8=%281%2F3%29x%2B%281%2F3%29%282%29 Distribute


y%2B8=%281%2F3%29x%2B2%2F3 Multiply


y=%281%2F3%29x%2B2%2F3-8 Subtract 8 from both sides.


y=%281%2F3%29x-22%2F3 Combine like terms. note: If you need help with fractions, check out this solver.


So the equation that goes through the points and is y=%281%2F3%29x-22%2F3


If you need more help, email me at jim_thompson5910@hotmail.com

Also, please consider visiting my website: http://www.freewebs.com/jimthompson5910/home.html and making a donation. Thank you

Jim