How do you write an equation in point-slope form for the given (-1, 7), (5, 7)?

1 Answer
Jul 22, 2015

Calculate the slope between the two given points and using that slope and either of the points write in point slope form as;
#color(white)("XXXX")# y-7 = 0(x-5)#

Explanation:

Step 1: Determine the slope
Slope of a line between two points #(x_1,y_1)# and #(x_2,y_2)# is
#color(white)("XXXX")##m = (y_2-y_1)/(x_2-x_1)#

For the given points #(-1,7)# and #(5,7)#, this becomes
#color(white)("XXXX")##m = (7-7)/(5-(-1)) = 0#

Step 2: Write in slope point form
For a slope of #m# and a point#(hatx,haty)#
the point-slope form is
#color(white)("XXXX")##y-haty = m(x-hatx)#

If we choose to use #(hatx, haty) = (5, 7)#
and our previously determined value for #m#
this becomes:
#color(white)("XXXX")##y-7 = 0(x-5)#

Note that this is an unusual form, but it is this the formal "point-slope# version.