Question

A line passes through the point (5,-8) and has an x intercept of -3. Find the equation of the line in slope intercept form.

Answer 1

y=mx+b form

Answer 2

Apply the point slope form (y - y1) = m(x - x1) , where m is the slope and (x1, y1) is the point (5, -8)

Answer 3

write y=mx+b with the known y intercept then plug in the point (instead of y and x ) and solve for slope.

Answer 4

x-intercept of -3 means y =0 at x =-3 or (-3,0) is another point. So far, you have 2 points (-3,0) and (5,-8). Who stops you write down the equation of the line?

Answer 5

We know the equation has the pts:
(5, -8) and (-3, 0)

Now we get the amount of change in the y direction:
0 - (-8) = 8

And the amount of change in the x direction:
-3 - 5 = -8

The slope of the line is a number that tells you how much y changes for each unit of x. Logically, this is:
the amount y changes/the amount x changes

slope = -8/8 = -1
so we have a line y = -1x + b, where b is some constant

Plug in any point (I'm plugging in (-3,0):
0 = 3 + b
b = -3

So we have:
y = -1x - 3

Answer 6

Hey, guys: Please help Alphabetical to solve this problem herself, with your guidance / hints / answers to her questions, etc. Thanks.

Answer 7

Thanks for the help everyone. It is appreciated.