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Find the equation for the line that passes through the points (-2,-6) and (6,5). Give your answer in point-slope form. You do not need to simplify

User DrEnter
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1 Answer

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The point-slope form of the equation of a line is given by the following expression:

y - y1 = m(x - x1)

Where m is the slope of the line and (x1, y1) is a point where the line passes through.

The slope of the line can be determined with the following formula:


m=(y2-y1)/(x2-x1)

Where (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) are two points where the line passes through. In this case we are told that the line passes through the points (-2,-6) and (6,5). By replacing the x and y coordinates of these points into the formula of the slope, taking x1 as -2, x2 as 6, y1 as -6 and y2 as 5, we get:


m=(5-(-6))/(6-(-2))=(5+6)/(6+2)=(11)/(8)

Then, the slope of the line equals 11/8, by replacing 11/8 for m into the slope-point form, we get:

y - y1 = 11/8(x - x1)

By taking one of the points, for example (-2,-6), we replace the x and y-coordinates that appear in the equation of the line, to get:

y - (-6) = 11/8(x - (-2))

y + 6 = 11/8 (x + 2)

Then, the equation of the line in slope-point form is y + 6 = 11/8 (x + 2)

User Rob De La Cruz
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