SOLUTION: find the equation of the line containing a given pair of points. (-2,-7)(-9,-5) the equation of the line is y= ???

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Question 130982: find the equation of the line containing a given pair of points.
(-2,-7)(-9,-5)
the equation of the line is y= ???

Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
First lets find the slope through the points (-2,-7) and (-9,-5)

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))

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)

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


m=-2%2F7 Reduce

So the slope is
m=-2%2F7

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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 is one of the given points

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

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)


y%2B7=%28-2%2F7%29%28x--2%29 Rewrite y--7 as y%2B7


y%2B7=%28-2%2F7%29%28x%2B2%29 Rewrite x--2 as x%2B2


y%2B7=%28-2%2F7%29x%2B%28-2%2F7%29%282%29 Distribute -2%2F7

y%2B7=%28-2%2F7%29x-4%2F7 Multiply -2%2F7 and 2 to get -4%2F7

y=%28-2%2F7%29x-4%2F7-7 Subtract 7 from both sides to isolate y

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)


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Answer:


So the equation of the line which goes through the points (-2,-7) and (-9,-5) is:y=%28-2%2F7%29x-53%2F7

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

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)

Graph of y=%28-2%2F7%29x-53%2F7 through the points (-2,-7) and (-9,-5)

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