# Math Help - The Straight Line Question

1. ## The Straight Line Question

Ques: Find the equation of the line that passes through the y-intercept of the line 3x+5y+2=0 and is parallel to the line 2x-4y-1=0.

From 3x+5y+2=0 , i found out that y-intercept= -2/5 x-intercept= -2/3

From 2x-4y-1=0 the, i found out that m= 1/2

Since m1=m2, i sub into the formula: y+2/5=1/2(x+2/3)
answer i got is y=1/2x-1/15 but is wrong.

can anybody help? Thanks.

2. ## Re: The Straight Line Question

Originally Posted by freshbox
Ques: Find the equation of the line that passes through the y-intercept of the line 3x+5y+2=0 and is parallel to the line 2x-4y-1=0.
From 3x+5y+2=0 , i found out that y-intercept= -2/5 x-intercept= -2/3 From 2x-4y-1=0 the, i found out that m= 1/2
Why are you doing anything with the x-intercept?

The new line has the same y-intercept, $\left(0,\tfrac{-2}{5}\right)$ as the line $3x+5y+2=0$

3. ## Re: The Straight Line Question

I am trying to find the x-intercept and y-intercept to use it in this formula: y-y1=m(x-x1)

4. ## Re: The Straight Line Question

Originally Posted by freshbox
I am trying to find the x-intercept and y-intercept to use it in this formula: y-y1=m(x-x1)
You can still use that formula: $x_1=\tfrac{-2}{5}~\&~y_1=0$.

5. ## Re: The Straight Line Question

How come your x1= -2/5 y1= 0 ?

I thought i found the intercept as y-intercept= -2/5 x-intercept= -2/3

Shouldn't y1=-2/5 and x1=-2/3?

I know i am wrong, please explain it to me if you don't mind, thanks.

6. ## Re: The Straight Line Question

Originally Posted by freshbox
How come your x1= -2/5 y1= 0 ?
I thought i found the intercept as y-intercept= -2/5 x-intercept= -2/3
Shouldn't y1=-2/5 and x1=-2/3? I know i am wrong, please explain it to me if you don't mind, thanks.
If you write the equation of a line through $(p,q)$ with slope $m$ you get $y-q=m(x-p)$ (point-slope form).

So line through $\left(0,\tfrac{-2}{5}\right)$ with slope $\tfrac{1}{2}$ is $y+\tfrac{2}{5}\right=\tfrac{1}{2}\left(x-0)$.

7. ## Re: The Straight Line Question

i don't understand

8. ## Re: The Straight Line Question

(p,q) as (x,y)
(p,q) y-q=m(x-p)

this part i get it

(x,y)
(0,-2/5) y-0=1/2(x+2/5)

this part how come your x and y swap places? i thought the formula is : y1-y=m(x1-x)

9. ## Re: The Straight Line Question

You are correct. What we get for copy and paste.
I edited it and it is now correct.

10. ## Re: The Straight Line Question

if the question says passes through the y-intercept means x-intercept = 0? Is this always the case?

So the x-intercept i calculated as -2/3 is wrong?

11. ## Re: The Straight Line Question

Rewrite in slope-intercept form is what I would do first, personally, for this type of problem.

y=(-3/5)x-2/5
y=(1/2)x-1/4

Since it'll be parallel to equation 2, y=mx+b m=1/2.

Now, with x=0 in the first equation, the y-intercept, y=(-3/5)(0)-2/5=-2/5. So y=(1/2)x+b must equal -2/5 when x=0. -2/5=b.

y=(1/2)x-2/5, or 5x-10y-4=0.

12. ## Re: The Straight Line Question

if the question says passes through the y-intercept means x-intercept = 0? Is this always the case?

13. ## Re: The Straight Line Question

You aren't supposed to be paying attention to x-intercepts in this question. The y-intercept is the point on the graph where the line intersects the vertical y-axis, which is at x=0, no? Therefore, to find where the graph passes through the y-axis, you must set x=0 and evaluate the equation, which will return the y-intercept.

(Just for reference, the x-intercept is solved by substituting 0 in place of y and solving for x, but that isn't necessary for this problem)