How do you write an equation in standard form given a line that passes through (-6,-3), with m=-1/2?

1 Answer
Alan P.
May 28, 2015

Given that the required line passes through #(-6,-3)# and has a slope of #m=-1/2#
we can first write the line's equation in slope-point form
and then convert this to standard form

Slope-Point Form
For a slope of #m# and a point #(hatx,haty)# the general slope-point form is:
#(y-haty) = m(x-hatx)#

With the given values this becomes
#(y+3) = (-1/2)(x+6)#

Standard Form
Assuming the standard form for a linear equation is
#Ax+By=C# with #A>=0 and Aepsilon ZZ#

we can re-arrange our slope-point solution:

#2(y+3) = -x-6#

#x+2y+6 = -6#

#(1)x+(2)y = -12# (standard form)

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