Question 63504
<pre>I am having problems understanding 
this problem
i have to express the equation in a slope-intercept form
its
(-6,-2) m= 5/2 
please help me! i'd apreciate it 
<font size = 5><b>
Since 5/2 can be written as the decimal 2.5, let's
use that for m instead.

You need the point-slope form for the equation of
a line through the point (x<sub>1</sub>, y<sub>1</sub>) with slope m.

y - y<sub>1</sub> = m(x - x<sub>1</sub>)

where (x<sub>1</sub>, y<sub>1</sub>) = (-6. -2) and m = 2.5

y - (-2) = 2.5(x - (-6) )

Now simplify and solve for y:

y + 2 = 2.5(x + 6)

y + 2 = 2.5x + 15

    y = 2.5x + 13

That is the slope intercept form,
normally written

    y = mx + b

because m = 2.5 is the slope and
(0, 13) is the y-intercept.

The graph of the answer

    y = 2.5x + 13

looks like this:
{{{ graph( 300, 300, -7, 15, -5, 17, 2.5x+13) }}}
Notice that it goes UP 2.5 times as fast as goes
OUT to the right.  That's the significance of
the slope 2.5 in the equation

    y = 2.5x + 13

Notice also that it crosses
the y-axis at 13. That's the significance of
the 13 in the equation

    y = 2.5x + 13

Edwin</pre>