SOLUTION: Write the equation of the line that passes through point (-4,-17) with a slope of 3. Thank you for your help

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Question 89182: Write the equation of the line that passes through point (-4,-17) with a slope of 3.
Thank you for your help
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
If you want to find the equation of line with a given a slope of 3 which goes through the point (-4,-17), you can simply use the point-slope formula to find the equation:


---Point-Slope Formula---
y-y%5B1%5D=m%28x-x%5B1%5D%29 where m is the slope, and (x%5B1%5D,y%5B1%5D) is the given point

So lets use the Point-Slope Formula to find the equation of the line

y--17=%283%29%28x--4%29 Plug in m=3, x%5B1%5D=-4, and y%5B1%5D=-17 (these values are given)

y--17=%283%29x-%283%29%28-4%29%29 Distribute 3

y%2B17=%283%29x%2B12 Multiply -3 and -4 to get 12

y=%283%29x%2B12%2B-17Subtract -17 from both sides


y=3x-5 Combine like terms
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Answer:


So the equation of the line with a slope of 3 which goes through the point (-4,-17) is:

y=3x-5 which is now in y=mx%2Bb form where the slope is m=3 and the y-intercept is b=-5

Notice if we graph the equation y=3x-5 and plot the point (-4,-17), we get (note: if you need help with graphing, check out this solver)

Graph of y=3x-5 through the point (-4,-17)
and we can see that the point lies on the line. Since we know the equation has a slope of 3 and goes through the point (-4,-17), this verifies our answer.