Final answer:
To find the value of a in the equation y = -2x + a, we need to find the value of a that makes the line parallel to the given line y = -2x + 6 and passes through the point (4,2). The value of a is 10.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the value of a in the equation y = -2x + a, we need to find the value of a that makes the line parallel to the given line y = -2x + 6 and passes through the point (4,2). Since the line is parallel, it will have the same slope of -2. We can use the point-slope form of a linear equation to find the equation of the line:
y - y1 = m(x - x1)
Substituting the values y1 = 2, x1 = 4, and m = -2, we get:
y - 2 = -2(x - 4)
After simplifying the equation, we find:
y = -2x + 10
Therefore, the value of a is 10.