How do you write an equation in slope intercept form for the line through the given point (5, -2) and (-16, 4)?

1 Answer
Mar 25, 2015

The slope of your line is: m=(Deltay)/(Deltax)=(y_2-y_1)/(x_2-x_1) and represents the inclination of your line (change in y for a change in x).

In your case you have: m=(4-(-2))/(-16-5)=6/-21=-2/7

you can now insert this slope into the relationship:

y-y_0=m(x-x_0) that gives the equation of your line using, for example, the coordinates of your first point as:

y-(-2)=-2/7(x-5)

giving: y=(-2/7)x-(4/7)

So you have a line of slope m=-2/7 and intercept at y=-4/7