Find an equation of the line: through the points of (5,6) (-1,4)

Answer 1

the equation for a line is

y = mx + b

the slope is given by the change in y divided by the change in x for any two points on the

line:

m = (y₂ - y₁) / (x₂ - x₁)

in this case:

Let (x₁, y₁) = (5, 6) and (x₂, y₂) = (-1, 4)

so

m = (4 - 6)/(-1-5) = (-2)/(-6) = 2/6 = 1/3

the intercept, b can be found by substituting EITHER point

back into the equation for a line, with the found m, and solve for b:

6 = (1/3)5 + b

6 = 5/3 + b

subtracting 5/3 from both sides, and noting that 6 equals 18/3

13/3 = b

so the equation is:

y = 1/3x + 13/3 answer