Find the Equation Using Point-Slope Formula (-4,7) , (1,2)

$(- 4, 7)$ , $(1, 2)$

Step 1

Find the slope of the line between $(- 4, 7)$ and $(1, 2)$ using $m = \frac{y_{2} - y_{1}}{x_{2} - x_{1}}$ , which is the change of $y$ over the change of $x$ .

Slope is equal to the change in $y$ over the change in $x$ , or rise over run.

$m = \frac{change in y}{change in x}$

The change in $x$ is equal to the difference in x-coordinates (also called run), and the change in $y$ is equal to the difference in y-coordinates (also called rise).

$m = \frac{y_{2} - y_{1}}{x_{2} - x_{1}}$

Substitute in the values of $x$ and $y$ into the equation to find the slope.

$m = \frac{2 - (7)}{1 - (- 4)}$

Simplify.

Simplify the numerator.

Multiply $- 1$ by $7$ .

$m = \frac{2 - 7}{1 - (- 4)}$

Subtract $7$ from $2$ .

$m = \frac{- 5}{1 - (- 4)}$

Simplify the denominator.

Multiply $- 1$ by $- 4$ .

$m = \frac{- 5}{1 + 4}$

Add $1$ and $4$ .

$m = \frac{- 5}{5}$

Divide $- 5$ by $5$ .

$m = - 1$

Step 2

Use the slope $- 1$ and a given point $(- 4, 7)$ to substitute for $x_{1}$ and $y_{1}$ in the point-slope form $y - y_{1} = m (x - x_{1})$ , which is derived from the slope equation $m = \frac{y_{2} - y_{1}}{x_{2} - x_{1}}$ .

$y - (7) = - 1 \cdot (x - (- 4))$

Step 3

Simplify the equation and keep it in point-slope form.

$y - 7 = - 1 \cdot (x + 4)$

Step 4

Solve for $y$ .

Simplify $- 1 \cdot (x + 4)$ .

Rewrite.

$y - 7 = 0 + 0 - 1 \cdot (x + 4)$

Simplify by adding zeros.

$y - 7 = - 1 \cdot (x + 4)$

Apply the distributive property.

$y - 7 = - 1 x - 1 \cdot 4$

Simplify the expression.

Rewrite $- 1 x$ as $- x$ .

$y - 7 = - x - 1 \cdot 4$

Multiply $- 1$ by $4$ .

$y - 7 = - x - 4$

Move all terms not containing $y$ to the right side of the equation.

Add $7$ to both sides of the equation.

$y = - x - 4 + 7$

Add $- 4$ and $7$ .

$y = - x + 3$

Step 5

List the equation in different forms.

Slope-intercept form:

$y = - x + 3$

Point-slope form:

$y - 7 = - 1 \cdot (x + 4)$

Step 6

Find the Equation Using Point-Slope Formula (-4,7) , (1,2)

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