What is the equation of a line that is parallel to the line #2x + 5y = -20# and passes through the point (-5,-3)?

1 Answer
May 6, 2015

Your line must have the same slope of the given line to be parallel.
Your line is: #2x+5y=-20#
this can be written in a "friendlier" way isolating #y# on one side:
#y=-2/5x-4#
This is good because you can immediately "see" the slope #m# as the coefficient of #x#, i.e., #-2/5#
Now you can find the equation of the parallel line using:
#y-y_0=m(x-x_0)#
Try by yourself and if you have problems have a look at the solution below:

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Solution:
using the coordinates of your point and the given slope #m# you get:
#y-(-3)=-2/5(x-(-5))#
#y+3=-2/5x-2#
#y=-2/5x-5#