SOLUTION: A line passses through (1, -5) and (-3,7). a. Write an equation for the line in point slope form b. Rewrite the equation in slope-intersept form

Algebra ->  Linear-equations -> SOLUTION: A line passses through (1, -5) and (-3,7). a. Write an equation for the line in point slope form b. Rewrite the equation in slope-intersept form      Log On


   



Question 119020: A line passses through (1, -5) and (-3,7).
a. Write an equation for the line in point slope form
b. Rewrite the equation in slope-intersept form

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 (1,-5) and (-3,7)

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 (1,-5) and is the second point (-3,7))

m=%287--5%29%2F%28-3-1%29 Plug in y%5B2%5D=7,y%5B1%5D=-5,x%5B2%5D=-3,x%5B1%5D=1 (these are the coordinates of given points)

m=+12%2F-4 Subtract the terms in the numerator 7--5 to get 12. Subtract the terms in the denominator -3-1 to get -4


m=-3 Reduce

So the slope is
m=-3

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


y%2B5=%28-3%29%28x-1%29 Rewrite y--5 as y%2B5


y%2B5=-3x%2B%28-3%29%28-1%29 Distribute -3

y%2B5=-3x%2B3 Multiply -3 and -1 to get 3

y=-3x%2B3-5 Subtract 5 from both sides to isolate y

y=-3x-2 Combine like terms 3 and -5 to get -2
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Answer:


So the equation of the line which goes through the points (1,-5) and (-3,7) is:y=-3x-2

The equation is now in y=mx%2Bb form (which is slope-intercept form) where the slope is m=-3 and the y-intercept is b=-2

Notice if we graph the equation y=-3x-2 and plot the points (1,-5) and (-3,7), we get this: (note: if you need help with graphing, check out this solver)

Graph of y=-3x-2 through the points (1,-5) and (-3,7)

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