Question

please please help!!
Find the slope of the line containing the given pair of points. If the line is undefined, state so. Please be sure to show all of your work.

(-5, -2) and (-7, -2)

Answer 1

Slope is 0

Answer 2

y = -2

Answer 3

how did you get the answer y=-2 please :)

Answer 4

or is it slope 0?

Answer 5

Coz the line crosses the y axis at 2.
while the slope is 0.

Answer 6

y=x(0)+b

y = b

where b is the y intercept.

Answer 7

Basically we have a line that has to go through two points that have y values of -2 so y has to always be -2 hence y = -2

Answer 8

Props to you, nurse, for wanting to know how the answer was achieved.

The general way is to first compute the slope. Slope is (y2 - y1) / (x2 - x1) -- rise over run, as they say. Try substituting the actual points into that equation and see what you get.

Answer 9

thanks ktklown so (y2-y1)/(x2-x1)=1-1=0?

Answer 10

x1, y1, and x2, y2 are the two points you were given.

Answer 11

(-5, -2) and (-7, -2)

Answer 12

ktklown I still get 0 is this correct? thanks so much for explaining and helping me:)

Answer 13

Yep, it's 0, I just wanted to make sure you were using the right method :-)

Answer 14

you are awesome!! thanks again for explaining!!!!

Answer 15

Now the general form of what's called the "point slope" form of a line is this:

(y - y1) = m (x - x1). In this case, x1 and y1 are any point on the line, and m is the slope you calculated in the first step.

Answer 16

So you substitute in the x1, y1, and m, and you're left with an equation that just has a X and a Y -- and that's your line. You can use either of the points you were given as x1 and y1, just as long as you're consistent about which one you use.

Answer 17

I have a few more questions if you have time to help??

Answer 18

I have time for one more.

Answer 19

Find the x- and y-intercepts for the equation. Please show all of your work. Then graph the equation and submit your graph
-x + 2y = 4

Answer 20

OK, this is actually easier. The x intercept is where the line intercepts the X-axis, and that happens when Y is equal to 0. Similarly, the Y-intercept is where X=0.

So to find the X=intercept, set y=0, and solve. Give it a shot! (Show your work so I can look for mistakes.)

Answer 21

-x=4
x=-4
(-4,0)??????

Answer 22

YES! Nicely done!

Answer 23

Now do the same to find the other intercept by setting x=0 instead.

Answer 24

Im so excited!!!!! thank you!!!!!

Answer 25

im stuck sorry

Answer 26

Great, I'm excited for you too! Remember that, in theory, you could set either x or y to *any* value you wanted, and solve the equation. Every solution will give you *some* point on the line. You're just being asked to find two *special* points on the line, that is, the places where it touches the X or Y axis.

But you could plug literally *any* number into the equation -- x=1934, or x=3423424, and it would give you a point on the line.

Answer 27

That's ok. So, just rewrite the equation with x set to 0, and show me what you get.

Answer 28

-x=0
x=-0
(-0,4)??

Answer 29

So the equation is -x + 2y = 4
So if you substitute x=0 then you get
-(0) + 2y = 4

Does that make sense?

Answer 30

yes thanks so much

Answer 31

so what do you get as y?

Answer 32

y=0

Answer 33

well I get 0 + 2y = 4
which is the same as
2y = 4
And if you divide both sides by 2 you get
y = 2

Answer 34

thank you!!! you've been a tremendous help!!!!