A line passes through (4 ,9 ) and (7 ,4 ). A second line passes through (8 ,7 ). What is one other point that the second line may pass through if it is parallel to the first line?

1 Answer
Aug 7, 2016

y=-5/3x+61/3

Explanation:

As the two lines are parallel they both have the same gradient.

gradient (slope) ->("change in the y-axis")/("change in the x-axis")

Let point 1 be P_1->(x_1,y_1)=(4,9)
Let point 2 be P_2->(x_2,y_2)=(7,4)

Let point 3 be P_3->(x_3,y_3) =(8,7)

For the first line reading left to right ->x_1 to x_2

So gradient is P_2-P_1 ->(y_2-y_1)/(x_2-x_1) = (4-9)/(7-4) =-5/3

Thus the gradient is m=-5/3

'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thus equation for the second line -> y=-5/3x+c

This passes through the point P_3 ->(x_3,y_3) =(8,7)

=> y_3=-5/3x_3+c" "->" "7=-5/3(8)+c

=>c=7+5/3(8) = 61/3

Thus the equation of the second line is:

y=-5/3x+61/3