How do you write the equation in point slope form given (5,-8) , (-9,-8)?

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Answer 1 · 2017-03-14T13:04:05

#(y + color(red)(8)) = color(blue)(0)(x - color(red)(5))#

Or

#(y + color(red)(8)) = color(blue)(0)(x + color(red)(9))#

Or

#(y + color(red)(8)) = color(blue)(0)(x + color(red)(a))# Where #a# is any value you want.

Because both points have the same #y# value of #-8# we know by definition this is a horizontal line with a slope of #m = 0#.

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 slope and the first point from the problem gives:

#(y - color(red)(-8)) = color(blue)(0)(x - color(red)(5))#

#(y + color(red)(8)) = color(blue)(0)(x - color(red)(5))#

We can also substitute the slope and the second point from the problem giving:

#(y - color(red)(-8)) = color(blue)(0)(x - color(red)(-9))#

#(y + color(red)(8)) = color(blue)(0)(x + color(red)(9))#