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Algebra 1
Course: Algebra 1 > Unit 5
Lesson 4: Point-slope formPoint-slope form review
Review point-slope form and how to use it to solve problems.
What is point-slope form?
Point-slope is a specific form of linear equations in two variables:
When an equation is written in this form,
This form is derived from the slope formula.
Want to learn more about point-slope form? Check out this video.
Finding point-slope equation from features or graph
Example 1: Equation from slope and point
Suppose we want to find the equation of the line that passes through
Example 2: Equation from two points
Suppose we want to find the line that passes through the points
Now we use one of the points, let's take
Want to try more problems like this? Check out this exercise.
Finding features and graph from point-slope equation
When we have a linear equation in point-slope form, we can quickly find the slope of the corresponding line and a point it passes through. This also allows us to graph it.
Consider the equation
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In school I learned it as y-y1=m(x-x1). Is it this just another way to write the same thing? Thank you(38 votes)
Yes, it is essentially the same. Sal is just using the variables "a" and "b" instead of X1 and Y1.(38 votes)
what is the slope of the line through (1,0) and (3,8)?(9 votes)
Let's use the slope formula, where the slope (m) is equal to rise over run:
m = rise / run
= (y₂ - y₁) / (x₂ - x₁)
= (8 - 0) / (3 - 1)
= 8 / 2
= 4
m = 4, so the slope of the line through (1, 0) and (3, 8) is 4.
Hope this helps!(29 votes)
- how do you get that answer for number 2(5 votes)
What do you mean for number 2? I guess I'll just explain both problems here.
Write the point-slope equation of the line that passes through (7,3) whose slope is 2.
This is pretty straightforward, since point-slope form requires you to just substitute values in order to form the equation.
Answer: y - 3 = 2(x - 7)
Write the point-slope equation of the line that passes through (3,5) and (7,1).
To solve this, you need to find the slope first. Slope for line connecting (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) is
(y1 - y2) / (x1 - x2).
Answer: y - 5 = -(x - 3) or y - 1 = -(x - 7)
What is the slope of the line y - 5 = -4(x - 8)?
Since both coefficient for both x and y are 1, you don't have to consider anything complicated.
To know which point does the line pass through, just substitute for x and y and compare L.H.S. with R.H.S.
Answer: -4 (8, 5)
Graph y - 7 = -3(x - 1)
There are many ways to do this, such as setting a point and doing some calculation but I will use another way. Recall slope is equal to change of y-coordinate for every one unit change in the x-coordinate. So if the slope is -3, it means for every 1 unit increase in x-coordinate, y-coordinate will reduce by 3 unit (-3). So we just take the point provided in the equation (1, 7) and take another point (1 + 1, 7 - 3) = (2, 4)(26 votes)
- I understand how this can create an equation, but not how it could be solved to an answer with two unknowns. If it can't be solved, what is the purpose exactly?
Thanks, Lilly(5 votes)- Linear equations are equations that when graphed create a line.
Every point on the line is a solution to the equation. Before learning how to create the equation, you should have learned about how to find solutions and graph the equation. Try reviewing the lessons are: https://www.khanacademy.org/math/algebra/x2f8bb11595b61c86:linear-equations-graphs
Hope this helps.(12 votes)
- What does it mean when the slope is simply - and you are trying to graph an equation?(5 votes)
When the slope is . you should have to find it. You want to set up the problem like this:
(-1,3) (-2,5)
y-3=2(x-1) (answer)
The 3 represents the y axis, and the -1 represents the x axis. you can interchange with the 2nd coordinate point. The 2 represents the slope. You can find the slope with slope-intercept form. Hope this helped.(7 votes)
- So this is basically (change in y)=(slope)(change in x)?(4 votes)
- Yes, good observation.(7 votes)
What is the slope of a line that passes through the points (1,3)(1,3)left parenthesis, 1, comma, 3, right parenthesis and (7,5)(7,5)left parenthesis, 7, comma, 5, right parenthesis in the xyxyx, y-plane?(5 votes)- Your post is unreadable in its current form. It looks like you need to find the slope and you have 2 points.
1) Label one point as (x1, y1) and the other point as (x2,y2)
2) Then use the slope formula: m = (y2-y1)/(x2-x1). Take each values from your points and put them into the corresponding variable in the formula.
3) Then, do the math to simplify the fraction. The result will be your slope.(3 votes)
Im confused on how to find slope. any tips anyone?(4 votes)- change in y / change in x(4 votes)
- One line passes through the points \blueD{(-8,1)}(−8,1)start color #11accd, left parenthesis, minus, 8, comma, 1, right parenthesis, end color #11accd and \blueD{(4,4)}(4,4)start color #11accd, left parenthesis, 4, comma, 4, right parenthesis, end color #11accd. Another line passes through points \greenD{(-9,-7)}(−9,−7)start color #1fab54, left parenthesis, minus, 9, comma, minus, 7, right parenthesis, end color #1fab54 and \greenD{(9,-3)}(9,−3)start color #1fab54, left parenthesis, 9, comma, minus, 3, right parenthesis, end color #1fab54.
Are the lines parallel, perpendicular, or neither(4 votes) - In point-slope form, what do y and x represent in the formula y−b=m(x−a)? Thanks!(3 votes)
- They represent the X and Y variable that will remain and form the final equation. The (a,b) is a point on the line. So, these are constants. And the m is the slope, which is also a constant.(3 votes)
