Question

Find the value of b satisfying the description. The line through the points (4,4) and (-5,b) with slope -3/5.

Answer 1

The slope of a line is change in y divided by change in x. Given 2 points, you subtract the y value of one point by the y in the other point, do the same with the x values, then divide the answer you got from subtracting the y by the answer got from subtracting the x.
Then you can set that equal to the slope which is given and solve for b (get be by itself on one side of the equation).

Answer 2

The farthest I get is b = 27/45 + 4 but that is not the answer as I have to go further but since I am stuck, I haven't the slightest clue what to do.

Answer 3

One issue, when you multiplied 3/5 by 9, don't multiply the bottom number by 9 as well, as 9 can also be seen as 9/1. So, from here, you have to find the least common denominator of the two fractions 27/5 and 4. 4/1 is another way of showing 4 in fraction form.

Answer 4

I get 135/5 + 20/5 which ends up being 31 but my answer has to be a fraction. For sure the bottom half of the fraction will be 5 however to get the top part of the fraction aka as my answer?

Answer 5

You don't have to multiply 27/5 by 5 because it already has the bottom number you're looking for, so that would leave you with 27/5+20/5=b

Answer 6

Yes! I got the answer: 47/5 Thank you since I was trying to do that last problem for hours. :]

Answer 7

No problem! Happy to help.