SOLUTION: I need help with this algebra problem... Find an equation of the line containing the given pair of points. (-7,-5) & (-3,-2) in slope intercept form y= Thank you for your h

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Question 202961: I need help with this algebra problem...
Find an equation of the line containing the given pair of points.
(-7,-5) & (-3,-2) in slope intercept form y=
Thank you for your help!!
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=-7 and y%5B1%5D=-5.
Also, is the second point . So this means that x%5B2%5D=-3 and y%5B2%5D=-2.


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


m=%28-2--5%29%2F%28-3--7%29 Plug in y%5B2%5D=-2, y%5B1%5D=-5, x%5B2%5D=-3, and x%5B1%5D=-7


m=%283%29%2F%28-3--7%29 Subtract -5 from -2 to get 3


m=%283%29%2F%284%29 Subtract -7 from -3 to get 4


So the slope of the line that goes through the points and is m=3%2F4


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--5=%283%2F4%29%28x--7%29 Plug in m=3%2F4, x%5B1%5D=-7, and y%5B1%5D=-5


y--5=%283%2F4%29%28x%2B7%29 Rewrite x--7 as x%2B7


y%2B5=%283%2F4%29%28x%2B7%29 Rewrite y--5 as y%2B5


y%2B5=%283%2F4%29x%2B%283%2F4%29%287%29 Distribute


y%2B5=%283%2F4%29x%2B21%2F4 Multiply


y=%283%2F4%29x%2B21%2F4-5 Subtract 5 from both sides.


y=%283%2F4%29x%2B1%2F4 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=%283%2F4%29x%2B1%2F4