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Please help me write the equation of a line that passes through the point ( -1, 5) and has a slope of -7

User Jimminybob
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1 Answer

5 votes

Answer:

y = -7x - 2

Explanation:

use y = mx + b

y = y-coordinate = 5

m = slope = -7

x = x-coordinate = -1

b = y-intercept = the only missing piece/what we're solving

usually, for an equation, x and y stay as variables, but to find the y intercept we need to plug in the coordinates:

5 = (-7)(-1) + b multiply -7 and -1

5 = 7 + b subtract 7 from both sides

b = -2

plug b into the equation and leave x and y as variables:

y = -7x - 2

User Bmiller
by
5.7k points