How do you write the equation of a line in point slope form and slope intercept form given points (3, -8) (-2, 5)?

1 Answer
May 27, 2015

Given the points (3,-8) and (-2,5)
both the point-slope form and the slope-intercept form require that we first determine the slope.

The slope can be calculated as
m = (Delta y)/(Delta x) = (5-(-8))/(-2-3) = - 13/5

Using the slope m=-13/5 and the point (3,-8)
the slope-point form (y-y_1 = m(x-x_1)) is

y-(-8) = -13/5(x-3)
or
y+8 = -13/5(x-3)

The slope-point form can be converted into the slope-intercept form (y=mx+b) by some minor re-arranging of terms:
y+8 = -13/5(x-3)

rarr y = -13/5 x +39/5 -8

rarr y = -13/5x -1/8