Write the equation of a line in slope-intercept form that goes through the points (4, -2) and (-4, -4). A. y = 1/4x - 3 B. y = 4x - 3 C. y = 4x - 2 d y = 1/4x - 2

Mathematics · College · Thu Feb 04 2021

Answered on

Given the points:

(4, -2)

(-4, -4)

x1= 4

x2 = -4

y1 = 2

y2= -4

Write the equation in slope-intercept form.

Before writing in slope-intercept form, we must first write in point-slope form

Point-slope form:

y - y1 =m(x -x1)

Slope-intercept form:

y = mx + b

Solution:

Before we can write in point-slope form, we must first find the slope of the line, we can find the slope by using the slope formula.

m = y2 -y1 /x2 -x1

m= (-4 -2)/(-4 - 4)

m = -2/-8

m=  ¼

Substitute the given values of x1, y1 and m to the formula for the point-slope form.

y - 2 = ¼ ( x - 4 )

In order to equate to slope-intercept form, we simply need to distribute ¼ to the parenthesis, then transpose -2 to the other side of the equation. Hence we must take note that in transposing a number, the sign changes.

y - 2 = ¼x - 1

y = ¼x - 1 + 2

y = ¼x + 1

Final answer:
y = ¼x + 1