Find the Equation Using Two Points (-1,5) , (3,-7)

$(- 1, 5)$ , $(3, - 7)$

Step 1

Use $y = m x + b$ to calculate the equation of the line, where $m$ represents the slope and $b$ represents the y-intercept.

To calculate the equation of the line, use the $y = m x + b$ format.

Step 2

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

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

Step 3

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).

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

Step 4

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

$m = \frac{- 7 - (5)}{3 - (- 1)}$

Step 5

Finding the slope $m$ .

Simplify the numerator.

Multiply $- 1$ by $5$ .

$m = \frac{- 7 - 5}{3 - (- 1)}$

Subtract $5$ from $- 7$ .

$m = \frac{- 12}{3 - (- 1)}$

Simplify the denominator.

Multiply $- 1$ by $- 1$ .

$m = \frac{- 12}{3 + 1}$

Add $3$ and $1$ .

$m = \frac{- 12}{4}$

Divide $- 12$ by $4$ .

$m = - 3$

Step 6

Find the value of $b$ using the formula for the equation of a line.

Use the formula for the equation of a line to find $b$ .

$y = m x + b$

Substitute the value of $m$ into the equation.

$y = (- 3) \cdot x + b$

Substitute the value of $x$ into the equation.

$y = (- 3) \cdot (- 1) + b$

Substitute the value of $y$ into the equation.

$5 = (- 3) \cdot (- 1) + b$

Find the value of $b$ .

Rewrite the equation as $(- 3) \cdot (- 1) + b = 5$ .

$(- 3) \cdot (- 1) + b = 5$

Multiply $- 3$ by $- 1$ .

$3 + b = 5$

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

Subtract $3$ from both sides of the equation.

$b = 5 - 3$

Subtract $3$ from $5$ .

$b = 2$

Step 7

Now that the values of $m$ (slope) and $b$ (y-intercept) are known, substitute them into $y = m x + b$ to find the equation of the line.

$y = - 3 x + 2$

Step 8

Find the Equation Using Two Points (-1,5) , (3,-7)

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