cant figure this one out

(1,-4) (5,2)

We first need to find the slope. This is just the change in the y coordinates divided by the change in the x coordinates. Note that y changes from -4 to 2 so that's 6. And x changes from 1 to 5 and that's 4.

So (change in y)/ (change in x)   =   6/4  =  3/2   and that's the slope.

To write the equation of the line we can use one of the points and the slope. Using the "point-slope" form, we have

y - y₁ = m(x -x₁)    where m is the slope and x₁ and y₁ are the coordinates of one of the points.

I'll use (5,2) since there is no negative involved (but I could have used either point)....so we have

y - 2 = (3/2)(x - 5)       simplify the right side

y - 2 = (3/2)x - 15/2       add 2 to both sides

y =  (3/2)x - 15/2 + 2   simplify the right side

y = (3/2)x - 11/2

And there's the equation of the line in "slope-intercept" form.

I like this form because the slope tells me if the line 'falls or rises" from "left to right" and I can also see the y intercept (0, 11/2) right away.

$$\mathrm{\ }$$Well, if you have a graph handy, I would just plot the points and go from there.

If you don't have a graph, ask yourself...what's the difference between these two lines?

From the point (1,-4), you go over 4 and up 6 to get to the next point.

So, our slope is 6/4 or 3/2.

In the slope intercept form, we have Y=3/2X+b

b is the Y intercept.

How do we figure out b?

From point (1,-4) we could go over 1 to get to the Y intercept., and our slope is up 3 over 2 (or 3/2)

If we divide the top and bottom by 2, we get 1.5 over 1. Meaning, to go over one, we need to go down 1.5

Now we have our completed slope intercept form of a line: Y=3/2X -5 ½

There we go!

It would have been alot easier to do this with a graph. The only problem with this though, is that you wouldn't have known exactually where it intercepted the Y axis, you would have had to estimate...but you probably would have figured out it's about -5 ½

I haven't learned about the equation you used CPhill.

I probably made it harder than it needed to be, but we both got the same answer so that's the important thing. :)

No problem, ND......we traveled different highways but arrived at the same destination...!!! Points and Thumbs from me on your answer ......!!!