SOLUTION: Find an equation of the line containing the given pair of points. (-7,-2) and (-3,-5) The equation of the line is y= (simplify your answer. Use integers or fractions for any n

Algebra ->  Equations -> SOLUTION: Find an equation of the line containing the given pair of points. (-7,-2) and (-3,-5) The equation of the line is y= (simplify your answer. Use integers or fractions for any n      Log On


   



Question 162047: Find an equation of the line containing the given pair of points.
(-7,-2) and (-3,-5)
The equation of the line is
y=
(simplify your answer. Use integers or fractions for any numbers in the expression.)

Answer by schrammbledeggs(41) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Well you can find your slope by doing (y2-y1)/(x2-x1)...
y2 = -5
y1 = -2
x2 = -3
x1 = -7
(-5 - -2)/(-3 - -7)
(-3)/(4)
Your slope = -3/4
So since we want our answer in the form of y=mx + b...and since we already have m...we can take one of the two points we were given (it doesn't matter which) and plug it in and solve for b.
I'll use (-7, -2)...
y=mx+b
-2 = (-3/4) * (-7) + b
-2 = (21/4) + b
Convert -2 into a fraction for the upcoming fractional subtraction...
-2 = -8/4
(-8/4) = (21/4) + b

Subtract (21/4) from both sides...
(-8/4) - (21/4) = (21/4) + b - (21/4)
(-29/4) = b
So now that we have b we can write our equation of that line...

y = (-3/4)x - (29/4)

There ya go :)