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Write an equation of a line with undefined slope that passes through the point(3,-2)

 Sep 17, 2017
 #1
avatar+590 
0

y=-2. 

Because the line is horizontal, the slope is undefined. 

 Sep 17, 2017
 #2
avatar+171 
0

How can I know that line is horizontal?

BOSEOK  Sep 17, 2017
 #3
avatar+33657 
+1

The slope of a horizontal line is well defined- it is zero.

 

I think what is wanted is as follows:

 

General equation of a straight line is y =mx + c

 

Here we know that this line goes through point (3, -2) so we can say

-2 = m*3 + c

 

This means c = -2 - 3m.  Put this in the equation for the line:

 

y = mx - 2 - 3m

 

or

 

y = m(x - 3) - 2

 

The slope m is undefined.

 Sep 17, 2017
 #4
avatar+171 
0

But my answeris x=3.

BOSEOK  Sep 17, 2017
 #7
avatar+33657 
0

Ok. x = 3 is a vertical line.  This has infinite slope, so is basically undefined.

 

(I repeat: a horizontal line has zero slope).

Alan  Sep 17, 2017
 #5
avatar+590 
0

To put it simply, in linear equations, if an equation is y= (any real number), then it is horizontal. For example, y=2 is horizontal, and it has an undefined slope. x=3 is actually a vertical line. Its slope is 0.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong. laugh

 Sep 17, 2017
 #6
avatar+2446 
+1

BOSEOK is correct; the equation is x=3.

 

Contrary to what Gh0sty stated, the slope is defined when a linear function happens to be horizontal. Let's figure out the slope of the graph provided by Gh0sty. I will use the points (3,2) and (0,2). Let's find the slope.

 

Of course, the formula for slope is the following:

 

m=y2y1x2x1

 

m=2(2)03 Continue to simplify the fraction.
m=03=0  
   

 

The slope is 0. 0 is a valid number for the slope. If you type into Demos y=0x-2, the line will appear exactly as the picture above. 

 

Let's try calculating the slope of the line x=-3. Two arbitrary points on the line are (3,2) and (3,0)

 

What is the slope of this? Let's try using the formula again. Let's see what happens.

 

023(3) Simplify both the numerator and the denominator.
20  
   

 

Of course, any number divided by 0 is undefined and therefore it has an undefined slope. 

 

Therefore, BOSEOK's answer is correct because it meets both criteria of

 

1) A line with an undefined slope

2) A line that passes through the point (3,2)

 

And therefore, x=3 is correct. 

 Sep 17, 2017
 #8
avatar+590 
0

Hey...I was wrong. (Again.)

Sorry Boseok.

Gh0sty15  Sep 17, 2017
 #9
avatar+590 
0

Sorry Alan.

Gh0sty15  Sep 17, 2017
 #10
avatar+33657 
+1

No problem! Don't worry about it.

Alan  Sep 17, 2017

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