Systems of Two Linear Equations: Help plugging in plots.

Question

So currently I'm learning about Systems of Two Linear Equations. I have to write an equation (y = mx + b) and use the points (24, 16). What would I input in the equation?

Answer 1

Equations of a line are often represented in slope-intercept form:

y = mx + b

where

m: slope of the line

b: intercept

(x,y): any point on the line

If you were given two points and asked to solve the system of equations (or find the equation of the line), then you need to solve for m and b.

E.g. using two points on a line: (2, 5) and (3, 7), we have

5 = 2m + b

7 = 3m + b

which you can solve to find

m = 2, and b = 1

and your solution:

y = 2x + 1

Hopefully that helps...it's basically a long winded way of saying what Irene, Mark & Phillip were hinting at.