In school I learned it as y-y1=m(x-x1). Is it this just another way to write the same thing? Thank you

Yes, it is essentially the same. Sal is just using the variables "a" and "b" instead of X1 and Y1.

what is the slope of the line through (1,0) and (3,8)?

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!

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

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.

What does it mean when the slope is simply - and you are trying to graph an equation?

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.

So it says "now we use one of the y intercepts". So I chose one and I got it wrong because they chose the other one. Why did I get it wrong?

Please help me understand what you are asking, In a linear equation, there is only one y intercept, so there is no choice as to which one you would choose, If you are just talking points, then anyone you choose should lead to the same answer, so I would have to see your process to find out where you went wrong, more than likely, it was a sign error somewhere. I did not find anywhere where it talked about one of the y-intercepts, if you have more than one, then it is not a function and cannot be linear.

How do i graph a straight line?? The KA graphing tool does not let me make a straight line... is this user error? Please help.

If you are talking about the tool in the 2nd practice problem on this page, it only graphs a straight line. Drag the each dot to a point that you want to graph. Once you have each dot on the point you want, you have your line.

If the point is (5,0) and the slope is 3, do you think we should use y-0=3(x-5) or just y=3(x-5)?

Strict point slope form is: y-0=3(x-5) It becomes y=3(x-5) if you simplify the left side.

Hey! Just a random question, if you get result of point-slope form _*y-9=-4(x-4)_ And you want to convert to slope-intercept form it will be: y = -4x+25*, right? But if i want to convert: *y = -4x+25* to point-slope form again, it can be *y-25 = -4(x-0)* right? If so is this right or wrong? or is there some kind of method to turn slope-intercept form to point-slope form?

All versions are correct. Remember, point-slope form accepts any point that is on the line. Since there are infinite points on the line, there is no single version of the equation when it is written in point slope form. However, all those versions would convert to the same slope-intercept form.

Main content

Algebra 1

Course: Algebra 1 > Unit 5

Lesson 4: Point-slope form

Point-slope form review

CCSS.Math:

HSF.LE.A.2

Google Classroom

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:

y, minus, start color #1fab54, b, end color #1fab54, equals, start color #ed5fa6, m, end color #ed5fa6, left parenthesis, x, minus, start color #11accd, a, end color #11accd, right parenthesis

When an equation is written in this form, start color #ed5fa6, m, end color #ed5fa6 gives the slope of the line and left parenthesis, start color #11accd, a, end color #11accd, comma, start color #1fab54, b, end color #1fab54, right parenthesis is a point the line passes through.

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 left parenthesis, start color #11accd, 1, end color #11accd, comma, start color #1fab54, 5, end color #1fab54, right parenthesis and whose slope is start color #ed5fa6, minus, 2, end color #ed5fa6. Well, we simply plug start color #ed5fa6, m, equals, minus, 2, end color #ed5fa6, start color #11accd, a, equals, 1, end color #11accd, and start color #1fab54, b, equals, 5, end color #1fab54 into point-slope form!

y, minus, start color #1fab54, 5, end color #1fab54, equals, start color #ed5fa6, minus, 2, end color #ed5fa6, left parenthesis, x, minus, start color #11accd, 1, end color #11accd, right parenthesis

Example 2: Equation from two points

Suppose we want to find the line that passes through the points left parenthesis, 1, comma, 4, right parenthesis and left parenthesis, 6, comma, 19, right parenthesis. First, we use the two points to find the slope:

$\begin{aligned} \text{Slope}&=\dfrac{19-4}{6-1} \\\\\ &=\dfrac{15}{5} \\\\ &=\maroonC 3 \end{aligned}$

Now we use one of the points, let's take left parenthesis, start color #11accd, 1, end color #11accd, comma, start color #1fab54, 4, end color #1fab54, right parenthesis, and write the equation in point-slope:

y, minus, start color #1fab54, 4, end color #1fab54, equals, start color #ed5fa6, 3, end color #ed5fa6, left parenthesis, x, minus, start color #11accd, 1, end color #11accd, right parenthesis

Problem 1

Current

Write the point-slope equation of the line that passes through left parenthesis, 7, comma, 3, right parenthesis whose slope is 2.

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 y, minus, start color #1fab54, 1, end color #1fab54, equals, start color #ed5fa6, 2, end color #ed5fa6, left parenthesis, x, minus, start color #11accd, 3, end color #11accd, right parenthesis. We can tell that the corresponding line passes through left parenthesis, start color #11accd, 3, end color #11accd, comma, start color #1fab54, 1, end color #1fab54, right parenthesis and has a slope of start color #ed5fa6, 2, end color #ed5fa6. Now we can graph the line:

Problem 1

Current

What is the slope of the line y, minus, 5, equals, minus, 4, left parenthesis, x, minus, 8, right parenthesis?

The line passes through which point?

(Choice A)
left parenthesis, 5, comma, 8, right parenthesis
(Choice B)
left parenthesis, 8, comma, 5, right parenthesis
(Choice C)
left parenthesis, minus, 5, comma, minus, 8, right parenthesis
(Choice D)
left parenthesis, minus, 8, comma, minus, 5, right parenthesis

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Want to join the conversation?

Simmy :)
Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to Simmy :)'s post “In school I learned it as...”
In school I learned it as y-y1=m(x-x1). Is it this just another way to write the same thing? Thank you
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(32 votes)
Answer
- Kim Seidel
  Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to Kim Seidel's post “Yes, it is essentially th...”
  Yes, it is essentially the same. Sal is just using the variables "a" and "b" instead of X1 and Y1.
  Comment on Kim Seidel's post “Yes, it is essentially th...”
  (29 votes)
Natia Island
Posted 3 years ago. Direct link to Natia Island's post “what is the slope of the ...”
what is the slope of the line through (1,0) and (3,8)?
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(7 votes)
Answer
- Polina Vitić
  Posted 3 years ago. Direct link to Polina Vitić's post “Let's use the *slope form...”
  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!
  Button navigates to signup page
  (22 votes)
hannah.mcgregor
Posted 3 years ago. Direct link to hannah.mcgregor's post “I understand how this can...”
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
Button navigates to signup pageComment on hannah.mcgregor's post “I understand how this can...”
(5 votes)
Answer
- Kim Seidel
  Posted 3 years ago. Direct link to Kim Seidel's post “Linear equations are equa...”
  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.
  Button navigates to signup page
  (9 votes)
taisiya Matev
Posted 5 years ago. Direct link to taisiya Matev's post “What does it mean when th...”
What does it mean when the slope is simply - and you are trying to graph an equation?
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(5 votes)
Answer
- Jacob Beauvais
  Posted 5 years ago. Direct link to Jacob Beauvais's post “When the slope is . you s...”
  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.
  Comment on Jacob Beauvais's post “When the slope is . you s...”
  (7 votes)
ss1309996
Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to ss1309996's post “One line passes through t...”
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
Button navigates to signup pageComment on ss1309996's post “One line passes through t...”
(4 votes)
Answer
Violeta 😾
Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to Violeta 😾's post “Im confused on how to fin...”
Im confused on how to find slope. any tips anyone?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on Violeta 😾's post “Im confused on how to fin...”
(3 votes)
Answer
- Ashur Hamilton
  Posted a year ago. Direct link to Ashur Hamilton's post “change in y / change in x”
  change in y / change in x
  Button navigates to signup page
  (3 votes)
Rebekah Chisick
Posted 6 years ago. Direct link to Rebekah Chisick's post “So it says "now we use on...”
So it says "now we use one of the y intercepts". So I chose one and I got it wrong because they chose the other one. Why did I get it wrong?
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(2 votes)
Answer
- David Severin
  Posted 6 years ago. Direct link to David Severin's post “Please help me understand...”
  Please help me understand what you are asking, In a linear equation, there is only one y intercept, so there is no choice as to which one you would choose, If you are just talking points, then anyone you choose should lead to the same answer, so I would have to see your process to find out where you went wrong, more than likely, it was a sign error somewhere.
  I did not find anywhere where it talked about one of the y-intercepts, if you have more than one, then it is not a function and cannot be linear.
  Comment on David Severin's post “Please help me understand...”
  (6 votes)
elliepurvis011
Posted a year ago. Direct link to elliepurvis011's post “How do i graph a straight...”
How do i graph a straight line?? The KA graphing tool does not let me make a straight line... is this user error? Please help.
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(2 votes)
Answer
- Kim Seidel
  Posted a year ago. Direct link to Kim Seidel's post “If you are talking about ...”
  If you are talking about the tool in the 2nd practice problem on this page, it only graphs a straight line. Drag the each dot to a point that you want to graph. Once you have each dot on the point you want, you have your line.
  Button navigates to signup page
  (3 votes)
Mr. Stanwood
Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to Mr. Stanwood's post “If the point is (5,0) and...”
If the point is (5,0) and the slope is 3, do you think we should use y-0=3(x-5) or just y=3(x-5)?
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(2 votes)
Answer
- Kim Seidel
  Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to Kim Seidel's post “Strict point slope form i...”
  Strict point slope form is: y-0=3(x-5)
  It becomes y=3(x-5) if you simplify the left side.
  Button navigates to signup page
  (3 votes)
Kind Nesz
Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to Kind Nesz's post “Hey! Just a random questi...”
Hey! Just a random question,
if you get result of point-slope form
y-9=-4(x-4)
And you want to convert to slope-intercept form it will be:
y = -4x+25, right?
But if i want to convert:
y = -4x+25
to point-slope form again, it can be
*y-25 = -4(x-0)* right?
If so is this right or wrong? or is there some kind of method to turn slope-intercept form to point-slope form?
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(2 votes)
Answer
- Kim Seidel
  Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to Kim Seidel's post “All versions are correct....”
  All versions are correct. Remember, point-slope form accepts any point that is on the line. Since there are infinite points on the line, there is no single version of the equation when it is written in point slope form. However, all those versions would convert to the same slope-intercept form.
  Comment on Kim Seidel's post “All versions are correct....”
  (3 votes)