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Equation of A Line

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23 views2 pages

Equation of A Line

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Dump Ster
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Equation of a Line

A. Equation of the line given a slope and y – intercept


To find the equation of the line given slope and y-intercept, use the slope-intercept form.
y = mx + b
where m is the slope and b is the y – intercept.

Illustrative examples:
1. Find the equation of the line with slope (m) 2 and a y-intercept (b) 5.
Solutions:
Using the equation y = mx + b, substitute the slope and the y-intercept.
Thus, the equation of the line is y = 2x + 5.

2. Find the equation of a line given slope (m) 2/3 and a y-intercept (b) -1.
Solutions:
Using the equation y = mx + b, substitute the slope and the y-intercept.
Thus, the equation of a line is y =2/3x – 1.

B. Equation of the line given a slope and a point on a line

To find the equation of a line given slope and a point on a line, use the point – slope form.
y – y1 = m (x – x1)
where m is the value of the slope and a point P1 (x1, y1) on the line.

Illustrative example:
1. Find the equation of the line in the form y = mx + b whose slope is 3 and a point (1, 4) on the line.
Solutions:
Substitute the slope m = 3 and the point (1, 4) in the equation
y – y1 = m (x – x1)
y – 4 = 3(x – 1) By substitution
y – 4 = 3x – 3 Use distributive property
y = 3x – 3 + 4 Apply Addition Property of Equality
y = 3x + 1 Simplify
Thus, the equation of the line is y = 3x + 1.

Alternative solution:
You may also use the slope-intercept form. Since the slope and the point are given, find the y-intercept first
by substituting it to the formula y = mx + b.
Solve for b:
4 = 3(1) + b By substitution.
4=3+b Use distributive property of equality.
4–3=b Apply addition property of equality.
1=b Simplify
The next step is to substitute the values of m and b in the equation y = mx + b.
Thus, the equation of the line is y = 3x + 1.
C. Equation of the line given two points

To find the equation of the line given two points on a line, use the two-point form.
𝒚 − 𝒚𝟏
(𝒚 − 𝒚𝟏 ) = ( 𝟐 )(𝒙 − 𝒙𝟏 )
𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏
where (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) are the coordinates of P1 and P2

Illustrative examples:
1. Find the equation of the line that passes through the points P 1 (2, 1) and P2 (-1, -5).

Solutions:
(x1, y1) (x2, y2)
Substitute P1 (2, 1) and P2 (-1, -5) in the equation:
𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚𝟏
(𝒚 − 𝒚𝟏 ) = ( )(𝒙 − 𝒙𝟏 )
𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏
−5−1
(𝑦 − 1) = (
−1−2
)(𝑥 − 2) By substitution
−6
(𝑦 − 1) = ( )(𝑥 − 2) Calculate the slope
−3

(𝑦 − 1) = 2(𝑥 − 2) Simplify the slope


𝑦 − 1 = 2𝑥 − 4 Use distributive property
𝑦 = 2𝑥 − 4 + 1 Apply Addition Property of Equality
𝑦 = 2𝑥 − 3 Simplify

Thus, the equation of the line is y = 2x – 3.

Alternative solution:
You may also use the slope – intercept form. Since the two points are given, you
𝒚 −𝒚
need to find the slope first by substituting in the formula 𝑚 = 𝟐 𝟏
𝒙𝟐 −𝒙𝟏

𝑦2 −𝑦1 −5−1 −6
𝑚= 𝑚= 𝑚= m=2
𝑥2 −𝑥1 −1−2 −3

The next step is to substitute the slope m = 2 and the coordinates of either point for x and y. Use P1 (2, 1)
in the equation y = mx + b.

Solve for b:
1 = 2(2) + b By Substitution
1=4+b Simplify
1–4=b Apply addition property of equality
−3 = b Simplify
The next step is to substitute the values of m and b in the equation y = mx + b.
Thus, the equation of a line is y = 2x – 3.

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