Chapter 4: Problem 75
For the following exercises, sketch a line with the given features. Passing through the points (-3,-4) and (3,0)
Short Answer
Expert verified
The line's equation is \( y = \frac{2}{3}x - 2 \).
Step by step solution
01
Understand the Problem
We need to sketch a line that passes through two given points: (-3,-4) and (3,0). To start, we will determine the equation of the line because it helps in plotting the line on a graph.
02
Calculate the Slope of the Line
The slope \( m \) of a line passing through two points \( (x_1, y_1) \) and \( (x_2, y_2) \) is given by the formula: \( m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1} \). Substituting the values, \( m = \frac{0 - (-4)}{3 - (-3)} = \frac{4}{6} = \frac{2}{3} \).
03
Use Point-Slope Form to Find the Line Equation
With the slope \( m = \frac{2}{3} \) and a point on the line, say (-3,-4), we use the point-slope form equation: \( y - y_1 = m(x - x_1) \). Substituting, \( y + 4 = \frac{2}{3}(x + 3) \).
04
Simplify to Slope-Intercept Form
Expand the equation from Step 3: \( y + 4 = \frac{2}{3}x + 2 \). Now, solve for \( y \) to get the equation in slope-intercept form: \( y = \frac{2}{3}x - 2 \).
05
Sketch the Line
On a coordinate plane, plot the points (-3,-4) and (3,0). Draw a straight line through these points. The line represents the equation \( y = \frac{2}{3}x - 2 \) and it passes through the given points.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Slope of a line
The slope of a line is a measure of its steepness, often denoted by the letter \( m \). It can be thought of as the "tilt" of the line when compared to the horizontal axis. To find the slope of a line that passes through two specific points, you use the formula: \[ m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1} \]Let's break this down:
- \( (x_1, y_1) \) and \( (x_2, y_2) \) are the coordinates of the two points through which the line passes.
- The numerator \( (y_2 - y_1) \) indicates how much the line rises or falls as you move from the first point to the second point.
- The denominator \( (x_2 - x_1) \) shows how far you move horizontally between these two points.
Point-slope form
The point-slope form is particularly useful when you have a point on the line and the slope. The formula is:\[ y - y_1 = m(x - x_1) \]In this equation:
- \( m \) is the slope of the line.
- \( (x_1, y_1) \) is a specific point through which the line passes.
- \( x \) and \( y \) are variables representing the coordinates of any further points on the line.
Slope-intercept form
The slope-intercept form of a line equation is one of the most common formats because it directly reveals the slope and the y-intercept. The formula looks like this:\[ y = mx + b \]Where:
- \( m \) stands for the slope of the line.
- \( b \) is the y-intercept, the point where the line crosses the y-axis.