Chapter 2: Problem 24
Graph the line passing through the given point with the given slope. \((-2,-3),\) undefined
Short Answer
Expert verified
The line through (-2,-3) with an undefined slope is vertical: x = -2.
Step by step solution
01
Identify the Characteristics of an Undefined Slope
An undefined slope means the line is vertical. This is because the change in the x-values is zero causing the slope calculation to become undefined. For a vertical line, all points on the line have the same x-coordinate.
02
Use the Given Point to Determine the Line's Equation
Since the line is vertical and must pass through the point
(-2,-3), every point on this line will have an x-coordinate of -2. Therefore, the equation of the line is given by
x = -2.
03
Graph the Vertical Line on a Coordinate Plane
To graph the vertical line, locate the point
(-2, -3) on the coordinate plane. Then draw a straight vertical line through this point, parallel to the y-axis. This line should extend infinitely in both upward and downward directions.
Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!
-
Full Textbook Solutions
Get detailed explanations and key concepts
-
Unlimited Al creation
Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...
-
Ads-free access
To over 500 millions flashcards
-
Money-back guarantee
We refund you if you fail your exam.
Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!
Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
undefined slope
When a line has an undefined slope, it means the line is oriented in a specific way: vertically.
Let's think about what a slope is first. Slope usually represents how steep a line is, calculated as the 'rise over run', or the change in the y-coordinates versus the change in the x-coordinates.
However, for a vertical line, the change in x-coordinates is zero because the line goes straight up and down.
This causes a division by zero in the slope formula, which results in an undefined value. Therefore, such lines are called vertical and have undefined slopes.
Let's think about what a slope is first. Slope usually represents how steep a line is, calculated as the 'rise over run', or the change in the y-coordinates versus the change in the x-coordinates.
However, for a vertical line, the change in x-coordinates is zero because the line goes straight up and down.
This causes a division by zero in the slope formula, which results in an undefined value. Therefore, such lines are called vertical and have undefined slopes.
- Vertical lines go up and down.
- They don't tilt left or right, hence the term 'undefined slope'.
coordinate plane
The coordinate plane is like a map you use to find a location. It consists of two number lines that cross each other at right angles.
The horizontal line is called the x-axis, and the vertical line is the y-axis. The point where they intersect is known as the origin with coordinates (0, 0).
Each point on the coordinate plane is identified by a pair of numbers written as (x, y):
The horizontal line is called the x-axis, and the vertical line is the y-axis. The point where they intersect is known as the origin with coordinates (0, 0).
Each point on the coordinate plane is identified by a pair of numbers written as (x, y):
- The first number is the x-coordinate.
- The second number is the y-coordinate.
line equation
The line equation describes all the points that form the line on a coordinate plane. Usually written in the form of y = mx + b, where m is the slope and b the y-intercept.
However, vertical lines are special since their slopes are undefined. For these lines, the equation simplifies significantly because x is constant for all points on the line.
A vertical line only has an x-term, written as x = constant. In our example, x = -2, which defines the location of the line along the x-axis.
However, vertical lines are special since their slopes are undefined. For these lines, the equation simplifies significantly because x is constant for all points on the line.
A vertical line only has an x-term, written as x = constant. In our example, x = -2, which defines the location of the line along the x-axis.
- This equation means the line passes through every point where x = -2.
- No y-term is needed as y-values can be any number.
x-coordinate
The x-coordinate is crucial in locating points on a coordinate plane. It's always the first number in the coordinate pair (x, y).
It signals how far a point is from the vertical y-axis to the left if negative and to the right if positive.
In vertical lines, like the one we are examining, the x-coordinate remains consistent. All points will share the same x-coordinate.
For instance, the line passing through the point (-2, -3) will maintain x = -2 uniformly:
It signals how far a point is from the vertical y-axis to the left if negative and to the right if positive.
In vertical lines, like the one we are examining, the x-coordinate remains consistent. All points will share the same x-coordinate.
For instance, the line passing through the point (-2, -3) will maintain x = -2 uniformly:
- This means every point on the line is directly above or below (-2, -3).
- The y-coordinates change, but the line stays parallel to the y-axis, creating a perfectly vertical path.