can someone help. i dont understand how to find the equation with the slope being 3/5 ??Indicate the equation of the line through (2, -4) and having slope of 3/5.

Question

campbell_st · Answer

well the slope intercept form of the line is 

y =mx + b

m = slope of the line and b = y- intercept

in your question m = 3/5

so you have 

y = 3/5 x + b

substitute the values for the point(2, -4)   that is x = 2 and y = -4 to find b

so 

-4 = 3/5(2) + b

or

-4 = 6/5 + b

so the value of b is -26/5

the equation of the line is 

y = 3/5 x - 26/5

to simplify things multiply every term by 5

then 

5y = 3x - 26

or rewriting in the general form 

3x - 5y = 26

hope this makes sense