How do you write the standard form of a line given (2.3) and (4,5)?

1 Answer
georgef
Jul 3, 2016

The standard form of a straight line is #y=ax+b#, if the line is not horizontal or vertical.

Explanation:

To determine the standard form of the line we need to find the value of the parameters #a# and #b#. We know that the line passes through the points #(2,3)# and #(4,5)#, so both points satisfy the line equation. That is:

#3=a2+b#, because of the first point, and
#5=a4+b#, because of the second point. Then, subtracting the second minus the first, we get:
#2=2a#, and so #a=1#. Substituting in either equation (say the first one), we get:

#3= 2*1+b# and so #b=1#. The standard form of the straight line is:

#y=1x+1=x+1#

Related questions
See all questions in Write an Equation Given Two Points
Impact of this question
2946 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License