What equation of a line would give you the table below?

Question

X   Y

1    4

0    1

-2   -5

-4    -11

Answer 1

The answer is y=3x+1.

There are several ways to find the answer to this question, and a few different formats in which to put the answer.  I prefer slope-intercept form, so I will explain it by that method.

y=mx+b

m=slope

b=y-intercept

The y-intercept is the value of y where x is 0.  Therefore, according to the table, b=1.

m=(y2-y1)/(x2-x1)=(1-4)/(0-1)=-3/-1=3.

If you have a graphing calculator, it can solve problems of this type through linear regression.  Ask your teacher if it is allowed before you use that method.