# Thread: Find m and b

1. ## Find m and b

If (2,0) and (0,5) are points on the graph of y = mx +b, what are m and b?

2. Originally Posted by magentarita
If (2,0) and (0,5) are points on the graph of y = mx +b, what are m and b?
You posted a similar question a while ago: http://www.mathhelpforum.com/math-he...d-value-k.html. The method shown to you there is the same as the method required here .... The current question requires you to do the same thing - twice - to get two equations:

Substitute each point into the equation. Get two equations in the unknowns m and b. Solve the two equations simultaneously for m and b.

3. Originally Posted by magentarita
If (2,0) and (0,5) are points on the graph of y = mx +b, what are m and b?
m represents the slope of the line whose graph is y=mx+b.

b
represents the y-intercept of the line whose graph is y=mx+b.

The y-intercept is already given to you in the point (0,5). Therefore, b=5.

m can be found using the slope formula:

Given $(x_1, y_1) \ \ and \ \ (x_2, y_2)$

$m=\frac{y_2-y_1}{x_2-x_1}$

Use your two points to substitute in the above formula to solve for m.

4. ## oh....

Originally Posted by mr fantastic
You posted a similar question a while ago: http://www.mathhelpforum.com/math-he...d-value-k.html. The method shown to you there is the same as the method required here .... The current question requires you to do the same thing - twice - to get two equations:

Substitute each point into the equation. Get two equations in the unknowns m and b. Solve the two equations simultaneously for m and b.
post about finding the value of k.

Thanks.

5. ## Thanks...

Originally Posted by masters
m represents the slope of the line whose graph is y=mx+b.

b represents the y-intercept of the line whose graph is y=mx+b.

The y-intercept is already given to you in the point (0,5). Therefore, b=5.

m can be found using the slope formula:

Given $(x_1, y_1) \ \ and \ \ (x_2, y_2)$

$m=\frac{y_2-y_1}{x_2-x_1}$

Use your two points to substitute in the above formula to solve for m.
Thanks for breaking this one down for me.