How do you find the equation of the line that goes through (3, -5) and (5, 4)?

2 Answers
Sep 1, 2017

See below

Explanation:

The method is called Two point form ( At least in my school )

The method is

let
3 = x_1x1
-5 = y_1y1
5 = x_2x2
4 = y_2y2

To find an equation passing through these two points,

(y - y_1) = (y_2 - y_1)/(x_2 - x_1) * (x - x_1)(yy1)=y2y1x2x1(xx1)

Where y and x are all the points on the equation, that has to be found out.

Now plugging in the values,

(y + 5) = ( 4 + 5)/(5 - 3) * (x - 3)(y+5)=4+553(x3)

(y + 5) = ( 9)/(2) * (x - 3)(y+5)=92(x3)

(y + 5) 2 = 9(x+3)(y+5)2=9(x+3)

2y + 10 = 9x + 182y+10=9x+18

9x - 2y + 18 - 10 = 09x2y+1810=0

9x - 2y + 8 = 0 9x2y+8=0

Sep 1, 2017

y=9/2x-37/2y=92x372

Explanation:

Begin by finding the slope via the slope formula: m=(y_2-y_1)/(x_2-x_1)m=y2y1x2x1

If we let,
(3,-5)->(color(red)(x_1),color(blue)(y_1)) and (5,4) ->(color(red)(x_2),color(blue)(y_2))(3,5)(x1,y1)and(5,4)(x2,y2)

Then,

m=color(blue)(4-(-5))/color(red)(5-3)=9/2m=4(5)53=92

Now that we have the slope, we can find the equation of the line by using the point-slope formula:

y-y_1=m(x-x_1)yy1=m(xx1)

Where mm is the slope and (x_1,y_1)(x1,y1) is a point on the function. We can use any of the two coordinates given. I will use (5,4)(5,4) as my (x_1,y_1)(x1,y1)

Thus, the equation of the line is...

y-4=9/2(x-5)larry4=92(x5) Equation in point-slope form

We can rewrite the equation above in y=mx+by=mx+b if desired by solving t=for the variable yy

y-4=9/2x-45/2y4=92x452

ycancel(-4+4)=9/2x-45/2+4

y=9/2x-45/2+4(2/2)

y=9/2x-45/2+8/2

y=9/2x-37/2larr Equation in y=mx+b form