How do you write the equation of a line in point slope form and slope intercept form given points (-2, 6) (5, 1)?

1 Answer
May 16, 2015

Your point slope form formula is=
y-y_1=m(x-x_1)

Where m is representing your slope.

You need to find your x_1, y_1, x_2 and y_2.
Your first point in the first bracket is x_1. Second point in the first bracket is your y_1. First point in the second bracket is x_2 and second point in the second bracket is your y_2.

So,
x_1= -2
y_1= 6
x_2= 5
y_2= 1

You need to find the slope before you can put it into point slope form.

To find slope using points, the formula is=

(y_2-y_1 )/ (x_2-x_1)

So your slope is going to be=

(1-6 )/ (5 - -2 )= -5/7

Your slope is -5/7

Next step is to substitute points into your point slope formula.
This is going to be

y-6= -5/7 (x- -2) *Two negatives become a positive

Your point slope formula is equaled to

y-6= -5/7 (x+2)

To find slope intercept form first you have to eliminate the bracket.
To do so multiply everything in the bracket by -5/7.
Your equation will look like this

y-6= -5/7x -10/7

Next you have to isolate your y variable. To do so, add 6 to both sides.

y-6+6= -5/7x -10/7+6

This will leave you with your slope intercept form which is

y= -5/7x -32/7