Final answer:
To find the equation of the line passing through the points (1,13) and (3,7), we can use the slope-intercept form of a linear equation. The equation is y = -3x + 16 (option a).
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the equation of the line passing through the points (1,13) and (3,7), we can use the slope-intercept form of a linear equation: y = mx + b.
First, we need to find the slope (m) of the line. The formula for slope is given by: m = (y2 - y1)/(x2 - x1). Using the coordinates of the two points, we can calculate the slope as follows: m = (7 - 13)/(3 - 1) = -6/2 = -3.
Next, we can substitute the slope and one of the points into the equation to solve for the y-intercept (b): 13 = -3(1) + b. Simplifying the equation, we get: 13 = -3 + b. Therefore, b = 13 + 3 = 16.
Finally, we can write the equation of the line using the slope and y-intercept: y = -3x + 16. Therefore, the correct answer is y = -3x + 16 (option a).