Question 164281
Determine the linear function whose graph is a line that contain  the pionts (-3,-1) and (2, -6)

first we want to find the slope of this line

m = (y2-y1)/(x2-x1) = (-6--1)/(2--3) = (-6+1)/(2+3) = -5/5 = -1

now there are two ways we can do this:

1) plug things into y = mx + b and solve for b and then get into y = mx + b or standard form.

we know that y = mx + b is the slope-intercept form of a line.  well we know y, m, and x so now we can solve the slope-intercept form for b.

y = mx + b let y = -6 and x = 2
-6 = -1(2) + b
-6 = -2 + b
-4 = b

now we know the point slope form of the line: y = -1x-4 or y=-x-4
if your teacher wants it in standard form we can write it that way by adding x to both sides you will get x + y = -4.  

2) use the point slope formula

y-y1 = m(x-x1) where x1 and y1 are points and m is the slope
y --6 = -1(x-2)
y +6 = -1(x-2)
y +6 = -1x +2
y = -1x + 2 - 6
y = -1x -4
y = -x -4

or in standard form you get x+y = -4

either way you get the same answer.