Question

Write an equation in standard form of the line that passes through the given point and the given slope. (-9, -4); m = -1/3

Answer 1

First, we must determine b using slope-intercept form*, the given point, and the given slope.

`-4 = -(1)/(3)(-9) + b\\\\-4 = -3 + b\\\\-1 = b`

Second, we need to set up the equation of the line in slope-intercept form.

`y = -(1)/(3)x - 1`

Third, we convert the above equation to STANDARD FORM**.

`y = -(1)/(3)x - 1\\\\(1)/(3)x + y = -1`

We now have our equation:
`(1)/(3)x - y = -1`

*Slope-intercept form: y = mx + b

**Standard form: ax + by = c