1 Answer

Sinatr · Answer 1 · 2020-07-29T13:25:46+0000

What is the equation of the line, in slope-intercept form, that goes through the point (-6,-4) with m=-1/2?

For this type of question, you have to use the slope-intercept form equation.

y=mx+b

In the equation, m is the slope and b is the y-intercept.

You are given that m is equal to
-(1)/(2) . You can put that into the slope-intercept form equation.

y=-(1)/(2)x+b

Now you need to find b. To do that, you can substitute y and x with the x and y in the ordered pair given.

The y in the ordered pair is -4. Substitute y with -4 in the equation you have. The x is -6. Substitute x with -6 in the equation.

-4=-(1)/(2)(-6)+b

Multiply the x and the slope:

-(1)/(2)(-6) = (-6)/(-2) =3

The answer is positive because a negative number(-) multiplied by a negative number(-) becomes positive(+).

Now add the product to your equation.

-4=3+b

To leave b alone, subtract 3 from both sides. You need to subtract because to cancel out everything with b, you have to do the opposite of it.

$-4-3=3+b-3 \\ \\ -7=b$

You have found b, which is -7. Add that to your slope-intercept form equation.

y=-(1)/(2)x-7

Your answer is
$\bf y=-(1)/(2)x-7$

If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments! :)

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