Question

How do you write the point slope form of the equation given (5,-2) and (3,5)?

Answer 1

`y +2 = -7/2(x –5)`
OR
`y –5 = -7/2(x – 3)`

Explanation:

Point-slope form is `y – y_1 = m(x – x_1)` where `m` is the slope and the letters with the subscript are the coordinates of a point. First, find the slope of the line:

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

`m=(5-(-2))/(3-5)`

`m=-7/2`

Your equation is now `y – y_1 = -7/2(x – x_1)`

Now pick a point, either of them will work; and substitiute the coordinates into their respective x and y values.

`y +2 = -7/2(x –5)`
OR
`y –5 = -7/2(x – 3)`