How do you write an equation of a line with point (3,-2), slope 1/3?

1 Answer
Mar 22, 2017

See the entire solution process below:

Explanation:

The point-slope formula states: #(y - color(red)(y_1)) = color(blue)(m)(x - color(red)(x_1))#

Where #color(blue)(m)# is the slope and #color(red)(((x_1, y_1)))# is a point the line passes through.

Substituting the values from the point and the slope given in the problems allows us to write this equation:

#(y - color(red)(-2)) = color(blue)(1/3)(x - color(red)(3))#

#(y + color(red)(2)) = color(blue)(1/3)(x - color(red)(3))#

We can also transform this to the slope-intercept form by solving for #y#. The slope-intercept form of a linear equation is: #y = color(red)(m)x + color(blue)(b)#

Where #color(red)(m)# is the slope and #color(blue)(b)# is the y-intercept value.

#y + color(red)(2) = (color(blue)(1/3) xx x) - (color(blue)(1/3) xx color(red)(3))#

#y + color(red)(2) = 1/3x - 1#

#y + color(red)(2) - 2 = 1/3x - 1 - 2#

#y + 0 = 1/3x - 3#

#y = color(red)(1/3)x - color(blue)(3)#