# Finding the equation of the line.....

• Jul 5th 2009, 12:53 AM
Monkee
Finding the equation of the line.....
I feel like I should know this by now (Worried)

Find the equation of the line that satisfies the given conditions:

$x-intercept = 1$
$y-intercept = -3$

I'm pretty sure that the equation $y-y_{1}=m(x-x_{2})$ is used but I cannot find out how to obtain the slope $(m)$. Thanks in advance for the help.

-Jerry
• Jul 5th 2009, 01:02 AM
Prove It
Quote:

Originally Posted by Monkee
I feel like I should know this by now (Worried)

Find the equation of the line that satisfies the given conditions:

$x-intercept = 1$
$y-intercept = -3$

I'm pretty sure that the equation $y-y_{1}=m(x-x_{2})$ is used but I cannot find out how to obtain the slope $(m)$. Thanks in advance for the help.

-Jerry

The two points you have been given are

$(x_1, y_1) = (1, 0)$ and $(x_2, y_2) = (0, -3)$.

Can you work out $m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1}$?
• Jul 5th 2009, 01:04 AM
malaygoel
Quote:

Originally Posted by Monkee
I feel like I should know this by now (Worried)

Find the equation of the line that satisfies the given conditions:

$x-intercept = 1$
$y-intercept = -3$

I'm pretty sure that the equation $y-y_{1}=m(x-x_{2})$ is used but I cannot find out how to obtain the slope $(m)$. Thanks in advance for the help.

-Jerry

x-intercept is 1...which means that line passes through (1,0)
y-intercept is -3...which means that line passes through (0,-3)

with the help of these two points, you can find slope(m).

Spoiler:

$m=\frac{-3-0}{0-1}$
$m=3$
• Jul 5th 2009, 01:08 AM
Monkee
Thanks guys! My girlfriend actually figured it out just as you guys replied. (Giggle) Thanks again!!!
• Jul 5th 2009, 04:55 AM
HallsofIvy
That's what girlfriends are for!