223k views
0 votes
13. What is an equation of the line that passes through the
points (-2,-6) and (-2,-2)?

1 Answer

3 votes

Explanation:

the typical equation is the slope-intercept form :

y = ax + b

"a" being the slope, "b" being the y-intercept (the y-value, when x = 0).

the slope is the ratio

y coordinate difference / x coordinate difference

when going from one point on the line to another.

going from (-2, -6) to (-2, -2) (we could go also in the other direction and get the same result) :

x changes by 0 (from -2 to -2).

y changes by +4 (from -6 to -2).

the slope is then +4/0 = uh oh !

that is undefined (or often called infinite).

in other words, this is a vertical line going through x = -2.

and that is already the equation for the line :

x = -2

there is no way to define it by

y = ...

because every possible y-value is a possible solution with x = -2

in other words, all points (-2, y) together are this line.

and therefore, there is also no y-intercept. the line is parallel to the y-axis and never intercepts it.

User Meaku
by
6.5k points

No related questions found

Welcome to QAmmunity.org, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of our community.