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Find the equation of the line through points (-5,-6) and (4,12)

Find the equation of the line through points (-5,-6) and (4,12)-example-1
User Nick Jones
by
2.6k points

2 Answers

17 votes
17 votes

Answer:

y=2x+4

Explanation:

Hi there!

We want to find the equation of the line that passes through the points (-5, -6) and (4, 12)

The most common way to write the equation of the line is in slope-intercept form, which is y=mx+b, where m is the slope and b is the y intercept

First, let's find the slope of the line

The formula for the slope calculated from two points is
(y_2-y_1)/(x_2-x_1), where (
x_1,
y_1) and (
x_2,
y_2) are points

We have everything needed to calculate the slope, but let's label the values of the points to avoid any confusion


x_1=-5


y_1=-6


x_2=4


y_2=12

Now substitute into the formula (remember: the formula has SUBTRACTION in it)

m=
(y_2-y_1)/(x_2-x_1)

m=
(12--6)/(4--5)

Simplify

m=
(12+6)/(4+5)

Add

m=
(18)/(9)

Divide

m=2

So the slope of the line is 2

Here is the equation so far:

y=2x+b

We need to find b

As the line will pass through both (-5, -6) and (4, 12), we can use the values of either one to solve for b

Let's take (4, 12) for instance

Substitute 4 as x and 12 as y

12=2(4)+b

Multiply

12=8+b

Subtract 8 from both sides

4=b

Substitute 4 as b in the equation

y=2x+4

Hope this helps!

User Nemanja Grabovac
by
3.3k points
21 votes
21 votes

9514 1404 393

Answer:

y = 2x +4

Explanation:

The slope can be found using the slope formula:

m = (y2 -y1)/(x2 -x1)

m = (12 -(-6))/(4 -(-5)) = 18/9 = 2

The y-intercept can be found from ...

b = y -mx

b = 12 -(2)(4) = 4

Then the slope-intercept equation for the line is ...

y = mx +b

y = 2x +4

User Will McGugan
by
2.8k points