141k views
14 votes
Write a linear equation that passes through the points (-3, 3) and (9, -13) in standard form:

User AndMarkus
by
5.8k points

1 Answer

7 votes

Answer:

4x +3y = -3

Explanation:

The standard form equation can be written from ...

(y2 -y1)x -(x2 -x1)y = (y2 -y1)x1 -(x2 -x1)y1

(-13 -3)x -(9 -(-3))y = (-16)(-3) -(12)(3)

-16x -12y = 12

The standard form has a positive leading coefficient, and all terms mutually prime. We can get that by dividing the equation by -4:

4x +3y = -3

_____

Additional comment

The form we used above for the equation of the line essentially comes from the fact that the slope of a line is the same everywhere:

(y2 -y1)/(x2 -x1) = (y -y1)/(x -x1)

Multiplying by the product of denominators and separating variable terms from constant terms gives the form used above.

User Shamisha
by
6.3k points