SOLUTION: please help me with this equation. If the lines represented by the equations 2y=3x+4 and y-ax-5=0 are parallel, What is the value of a?

Algebra ->  Linear-equations -> SOLUTION: please help me with this equation. If the lines represented by the equations 2y=3x+4 and y-ax-5=0 are parallel, What is the value of a?      Log On


   

Question 12582: please help me with this equation. If the lines represented by the equations 2y=3x+4 and y-ax-5=0 are parallel, What is the value of a?
Answer by Earlsdon(6294) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Remember: Parallel lines have equal slopes.
Get your equations into the slope-intercept form: y+=+mx+%2B+b m is the slope.
1)
2y+=+3x+%2B+4 Divide both sides by 2.
y+=+%283%2F2%29x+%2B+2 The slope, m is 3/2
2)
y+-+ax+-+5+=+0 Add ax to both sides.
y+-+5+=+ax Add 5 to both sides.
y+=+ax+%2B+5 Compare with: y+=+mx+%2B+b a = m
From the first equation, we had m = 3/2, and, because these lines are parallel, they have the same slope. Therefore, a = 3/2