Math  /  Algebra

QuestionA line passes through the points (4,19)(-4,-19) and (12,7)(12,-7). Write its equation in slope-intercept form.
Write your answer using integers, proper fractions, and improper fractions in simplest form. \square

Studdy Solution

STEP 1

What is this asking? We need to find the equation of a line that goes through two given points and write it in slope-intercept form, which looks like y=mx+by = mx + b. Watch out! Don't mix up the *x* and *y* coordinates when calculating the slope!
Also, remember that slope-intercept form is y=mx+by = mx + b, not y=bx+my = bx + m.

STEP 2

1. Calculate the slope.
2. Find the y-intercept.
3. Write the equation.

STEP 3

Let's **label** our points!
We'll call (4,19)(-4, -19) point 1, so x1=4x_1 = -4 and y1=19y_1 = -19.
And we'll call (12,7)(12, -7) point 2, so x2=12x_2 = 12 and y2=7y_2 = -7.

STEP 4

The **slope** (mm) is the change in *y* over the change in *x*.
The formula is: m=y2y1x2x1 m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1} Let's plug in our values: m=7(19)12(4) m = \frac{-7 - (-19)}{12 - (-4)} Notice the double negative becomes addition! m=7+1912+4 m = \frac{-7 + 19}{12 + 4} m=1216 m = \frac{12}{16} Now, we **simplify** the fraction by dividing both the numerator and denominator by their greatest common factor, which is **4**: m=12÷416÷4 m = \frac{12 \div 4}{16 \div 4} m=34 m = \frac{3}{4} So, our **slope** is m=34m = \frac{3}{4}.

STEP 5

We know the slope-intercept form is y=mx+by = mx + b.
We've got *m*, and we can use one of our points to solve for *b*, the **y-intercept**.
Let's use point 1: (4,19)(-4, -19).

STEP 6

**Substitute** the values into the equation: 19=34(4)+b -19 = \frac{3}{4}(-4) + b 19=3+b -19 = -3 + b Now, we want to **isolate** *b*.
To do this, we can add 3 to both sides of the equation: 19+3=3+3+b -19 + 3 = -3 + 3 + b 16=b -16 = b So, our **y-intercept** is b=16b = -16.

STEP 7

We have our **slope**, m=34m = \frac{3}{4}, and our **y-intercept**, b=16b = -16.
Now we just plug them into the slope-intercept form: y=34x16 y = \frac{3}{4}x - 16

STEP 8

The equation of the line in slope-intercept form is y=34x16y = \frac{3}{4}x - 16.

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