How do you write the equation for a line containing the points (–4, 1) and (–2, 3)?

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Answer 1 · 2014-10-26T06:49:14

The point slope formula is
$(y - y_1) = m (x - x_1)$
Where m = the slope calculated as $(y_2 - y_1)/(x_2 - x_1)$

$(x_1,y_1) (x_2,y_2)$
(-4 , 1) (-2 , 3)

Solve for the slope
m = $(3 - 1)/(-2 - (-3))$ = $(2)/1$ = m = 2

$(y - 3) = 2 (x - (-2))$ Plug in known values.

$y - 3 = 2 (x + 2)$ Simplify signs

$y - 3 = 2x + 4$ Use Distributive property

$y = -2x + 4 + 3$ isolate the y variable

$y = -5x + 7$ Simplify.