Question

Choose the equation of the line passing through the point (-2, 6) and parallel to y = one halfx - 8.

y = one halfx + 7

y = one halfx + 5

y = 2x + 7

y = 2x + 5

Answer 1

What is true of parallel lines on a graph? That is, how would know lines are parallel?

Answer 2

I really don't know any of this. Can you help me work out the equation step by step?

Answer 3

Parallel lines on a graph have the same slope. As it happens the line you are asked about and all of the choices are expressed in slope-intercept form. What is the slope of the line you are asked about?

Answer 4

the equation of a line in slope intercept form is y= mx + b where (x, y) is any point on the line m is the slope of the line and b the intercept. You are given the line y= (1/2)x -8.
equating this with y = mx + b what is the slope of this line?

Answer 5

1/2 is the slope right @triciaal

Answer 6

That's right. Now which answerS have the same slope?

Answer 7

@LarsEighner A and B

Answer 8

Okay. Now it is narrowed down. Which of these two contains the point (-2,6)?

Answer 9

I don't know. Can you help me with this part?

Answer 10

Okay (-2,6) is the point at which x= -2 and y=6. If you substitute in the equations, which of them is true?

Answer 11

Dude I don't know. Tell me how to do it, I can figure it out.

Answer 12

If you substite y = 6 and x= -2 in B, you get

6 = 1/2(-2) + 5
6 = -1 + 5

Is that a true statement?

Answer 13

So it's B?
Oh so you just plug in the numbers for x and y

Answer 14

Well, no.

When you plug into B you get
6= 1/2(-2) + 5
6= -1 + 5
6= 4

Is that true?

Answer 15

I don't know

Answer 16

parallel lines have the same slope as stated by @LarsEighner
y = mx + b
line passing through the point (-2, 6) m = 1/2
you have x, y and m so now we can find b
what is b?

Answer 17

You really do not know if 6=4? How about we trade my $4 for your $6. Would you like a trade like that?

Answer 18

wait give me a minute.

Answer 19

y = mx + b
6 = 1/2*(-2) + b
6= -1 + b
b =

Answer 20

Alright, so it's a because when you plug in the numbers you get
6=1/2-1+7
6=-1+7
6=6

Answer 21

write the equation of the line for any point (x, y) slope 1/2 and b =7

Answer 22

note that if you were not given the choices then this is the way to work through the problem

Answer 23

Right. @triciaal 's approach will work too.

Look by knowing what slope is, you could double your guessing chances on an item like this. By plugging into only the candidate answers, you can find the right answer with minimal math. Half of math is not doing stuff you don't have to do to get the answer.