Find the Equation Using Two Points (-4,-4) , (-8,-5)

$(- 4, - 4)$ , $(- 8, - 5)$

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.

$m = \frac{- 5 - (- 4)}{- 8 - (- 4)}$

Step 5

Finding the slope $m$ .

Simplify the numerator.

Multiply $- 1$ by $- 4$ .

$m = \frac{- 5 + 4}{- 8 - (- 4)}$

Add $- 5$ and $4$ .

$m = \frac{- 1}{- 8 - (- 4)}$

Simplify the denominator.

Multiply $- 1$ by $- 4$ .

$m = \frac{- 1}{- 8 + 4}$

Add $- 8$ and $4$ .

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

Dividing two negative values results in a positive value.

$m = \frac{1}{4}$

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.

$y = (\frac{1}{4}) x + b$

Substitute the value of $x$ into the equation.

$y = (\frac{1}{4}) \cdot (- 4) + b$

Substitute the value of $y$ into the equation.

$- 4 = (\frac{1}{4}) \cdot (- 4) + b$

Find the value of $b$ .

Rewrite the equation as $\frac{1}{4} \cdot - 4 + b = - 4$ .

$\frac{1}{4} \cdot - 4 + b = - 4$

Cancel the common factor of $4$ .

Factor $4$ out of $- 4$ .

$\frac{1}{4} \cdot (4 (- 1)) + b = - 4$

Cancel the common factor.

$\frac{1}{4} \cdot (4 \cdot - 1) + b = - 4$

Rewrite the expression.

$- 1 + b = - 4$

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

Add $1$ to both sides of the equation.

$b = - 4 + 1$

Add $- 4$ and $1$ .

$b = - 3$

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.

$y = \frac{1}{4} x - 3$

Step 8

Find the Equation Using Two Points (-4,-4) , (-8,-5)

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