What is the equation y=-5/2x-2 in standard form?

Question

This equation is in slope-intercept form, but I need it to convert to standard form.

Answer 1

Great question, Ashjia!

 

It might help to remember the following "forms" of an equation of a line:

 

y = mx + b, this is called the slope-intercept form of a line, since the slope (m) and y-intercept (b) are both explicitly seen in the equation.

 

y - y1 = m(x - x1), this is called the point-slope form of a line, since a point (x1, y1) and slope (m) are both explicitly seen in the equation.

 

Ax + By = C, where A and B are integers (and A is positive), this is called the standard form of a line.

 

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To get your equation y = (-5/2)x - 2 into standard form, you need to get all of your x's and y's on the left side of the equation and have your constant (number) on the right. Then you need to get rid of the fraction so you only have integers in front of x and y (remember the number in front of x needs to be positive! :)

 

y = (-5/2)x - 2

 

(5/2)x + y = -2

 

(2)(5/2)x + (2)y = (2)(-2)  .............. Multiply each term by 2 to get rid of the "2" in the denominator of (5/2).

 

5x + 2y = -4, Standard Form

 

Hope this helps!

 

Dr. John B

Answer 2

The Standard Form of the equation of a line looks like this:     Ax + By = C
 
For the line  y = (-5/2)x - 2      just add (5/2)x to both sides
              (5/2)x + y = -2       then multiply both sides by 2
                 5x + 2y = -4