How do you find the equation of the line that goes through (3, -5) and (5, 4)?

2 Answers
Sep 1, 2017

See below

Explanation:

The method is called Two point form ( At least in my school )

The method is

let
3 = #x_1#
-5 = #y_1#
5 = #x_2#
4 = #y_2#

To find an equation passing through these two points,

#(y - y_1) = (y_2 - y_1)/(x_2 - x_1) * (x - x_1)#

Where y and x are all the points on the equation, that has to be found out.

Now plugging in the values,

#(y + 5) = ( 4 + 5)/(5 - 3) * (x - 3)#

#(y + 5) = ( 9)/(2) * (x - 3)#

#(y + 5) 2 = 9(x+3)#

#2y + 10 = 9x + 18#

# 9x - 2y + 18 - 10 = 0#

#9x - 2y + 8 = 0 #

Sep 1, 2017

#y=9/2x-37/2#

Explanation:

Begin by finding the slope via the slope formula: #m=(y_2-y_1)/(x_2-x_1)#

If we let,
#(3,-5)->(color(red)(x_1),color(blue)(y_1)) and (5,4) ->(color(red)(x_2),color(blue)(y_2))#

Then,

#m=color(blue)(4-(-5))/color(red)(5-3)=9/2#

Now that we have the slope, we can find the equation of the line by using the point-slope formula:

#y-y_1=m(x-x_1)#

Where #m# is the slope and #(x_1,y_1)# is a point on the function. We can use any of the two coordinates given. I will use #(5,4)# as my #(x_1,y_1)#

Thus, the equation of the line is...

#y-4=9/2(x-5)larr# Equation in point-slope form

We can rewrite the equation above in #y=mx+b# if desired by solving t=for the variable #y#

#y-4=9/2x-45/2#

#ycancel(-4+4)=9/2x-45/2+4#

#y=9/2x-45/2+4(2/2)#

#y=9/2x-45/2+8/2#

#y=9/2x-37/2larr# Equation in #y=mx+b# form