Question

The gradient of a line which passes through the points M(3, y) and N(x, -5) is -7/8. Find the values of x and y.

a. x = 5, y = -3
b. x = 6, y = -4
c. x = 2, y = -1
d. x = 4, y = -2

Answer 1

The values of x and y that satisfy the given equation are x = 6 and y = -4.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the values of x and y, we need to use the formula for calculating the gradient of a line:

m = Δy/Δx

Using the given points M(3, y) and N(x, -5), we can substitute the y and x values into the formula:

-7/8 = (y - (-5))/(3 - x)

Cross multiplying and simplifying, we get:

-56 = 8(y + 5) - 7(3 - x)

Simplifying further:

-56 = 8y + 40 - 21 + 7x

Combining like terms:

-56 = 8y + 7x + 19

Moving the constant term to the other side:

8y + 7x = -56 - 19

8y + 7x = -75