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Question 447481: Given the points (26, 16) and (40, 26) how would I write an equation that correctly models the two points. I know its a linear equation and if this was on a roof I could tell you that the the pitch of the roof was about a 8/12, but just don't have any idea how to figure out an equation from two points for this college algebra class final project. Also its asking for a y intercept, but since we're dealing with positive numbers would there even be one? All help greatly appreciated.
Answer by scott8148(6628)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! unless a line is vertical (which this one isn't) it has to cross the y-axis somewhere (y-intercept)
the slope of the line is defined as the "change in y", divided by the "change in x"
___ as you go from one point to the other, how much do the x and y values change?
___ divide the changes to find the slope
use the slope-intercept form of the equation to finish the solution
___ y = mx + b ___ m is the slope and b is the y-intercept
___ plug in your calculated slope value
___ plug in the coordinates of one of the points for the x and y values ___ then solve for the value of b (the y-intercept)
you now have the equation you need (y = mx + b) and the intercept is part of it
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