SOLUTION: Find an equation of the line containing the given pair of points (-3,-4) and (-8,-1) the equation of hte line in slope-intercept form= y= I get so far on the equation and th

Algebra ->  Linear-equations -> SOLUTION: Find an equation of the line containing the given pair of points (-3,-4) and (-8,-1) the equation of hte line in slope-intercept form= y= I get so far on the equation and th      Log On


   

Question 473266: Find an equation of the line containing the given pair of points (-3,-4) and (-8,-1) the equation of hte line in slope-intercept form=
y=
I get so far on the equation and then get lost somehow at the end I cannot get it right!! Please help :)
Found 2 solutions by stanbon, jim_thompson5910:
Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Find an equation of the line containing the given pair of points
(-3,-4) and (-8,-1)
---------------
slope = (-1--4)/(-8--3) = 3/-5 = -3/5
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Form: y = mx + b
---
Substitute for y,x,m and solve for "b":
---
-1 = (-3/5)*-8 + b
-1 = (24/5) + b
-(5/5) = (24/5) + b
b = -(29/5)
--------------------
Equation:
y = (-3/5)x - (29/5)
==========================
Cheers,
Stan H.
=============

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=-3 and y%5B1%5D=-4.
Also, is the second point . So this means that x%5B2%5D=-8 and y%5B2%5D=-1.


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


m=%28-1--4%29%2F%28-8--3%29 Plug in y%5B2%5D=-1, y%5B1%5D=-4, x%5B2%5D=-8, and x%5B1%5D=-3


m=%283%29%2F%28-8--3%29 Subtract -4 from -1 to get 3


m=%283%29%2F%28-5%29 Subtract -3 from -8 to get -5


m=-3%2F5 Reduce


So the slope of the line that goes through the points and is m=-3%2F5


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--4=%28-3%2F5%29%28x--3%29 Plug in m=-3%2F5, x%5B1%5D=-3, and y%5B1%5D=-4


y--4=%28-3%2F5%29%28x%2B3%29 Rewrite x--3 as x%2B3


y%2B4=%28-3%2F5%29%28x%2B3%29 Rewrite y--4 as y%2B4


y%2B4=%28-3%2F5%29x%2B%28-3%2F5%29%283%29 Distribute


y%2B4=%28-3%2F5%29x-9%2F5 Multiply


y=%28-3%2F5%29x-9%2F5-4 Subtract 4 from both sides.


y=%28-3%2F5%29x-29%2F5 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=%28-3%2F5%29x-29%2F5