How do you write an equation in point slope form that passes through ( -1,0) , (3, 10)?

1 Answer
Jun 2, 2015

Slope is (change in #y#) / (change in #x#)...

More formally: Given two points #(x_1, y_1)# and #(x_2, y_2)# the slope #m# of a straight line passing through those points is given by the formula:

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

In your example, with #(x_1, y_1) = (-1, 0)# and #(x_2, y_2) = (3, 10)#,

#m = (10 - 0) / (3 - (-1)) = 10/4 = 5/2#

Point-slope form looks like:

#y - y_0 = m(x - x_0)#, where #m# is the slope and #(x_0, y_0)# is a point through which the line passes.

I will use the point #(3, 10)# to write the equation of our line as:

#y - 10 = 5/2(x - 3)#