complete the equation of the line through (-10, 3) and (-8, -8)

Question

What does y= in this equation?

Answer 1

Hi Margaret,

First we must determine the slope, m, of the equation:

m = (y₂ - y₁) / (x₂ - x₁)

m = (3) - (-8) / (-10) - (-8)

m = -11/2

Now we plug in the slope and one of the coordinates into the y = mx + b equation to the find the y-intercept, b.

3 = (-11/2)(-10) + b

3 = 55 + b

b = -52

Therefore, the equation should be y = (-11/2)x - 52