Chapter 1: Problem 84
Use the two-point form from Exercise 83 to show that the line with intercepts \((a, 0)\) and \((0, b), a \neq 0\) and \(b \neq 0,\) has the equation $$\frac{x}{a}+\frac{y}{b}=1$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The equation of the line that passes through points \( (a, 0) \) and \( (0, b) \) is indeed \(\frac{x}{a} + \frac{y}{b} = 1\).
Step by step solution
01
Start with the Two-Point Form
Start with the two-point equation of a straight line: \(\frac{y-y_{1}}{x-x_{1}} = \frac{y_{2}-y_{1}}{x_{2}-x_{1}}\).
02
Substitute Correct Coordinates
Substitute the coordinates of the points (\(a, 0)\) and \((0, b)\) into the equation. For the x-intercept \((a, 0)\), we have \(x_{1}=a\) and \(y_{1}=0\). For the y-intercept \((0, b)\), we have \(x_{2}=0\) and \(y_{2}=b\). This gives: \(\frac{y-0}{x-a} = \frac{b-0}{0-a}\).
03
Simplify the Expression
Simplify the equation to \(\frac{y}{x-a} = \frac{-b}{-a}\), which simplifies further into \(\frac{y}{x-a} = \frac{b}{a}\) when both sides are multiplied by -1.
04
Cross Multiply
Next, cross multiply the equation to eliminate the fractions. This gives \(ay = b(x-a)\).
05
Distribute b on the Right Side
Then, distribute \(b\) on the right side of the equation, resulting in \(ay = bx - ab\).
06
Rearrange the Equation into Desired Format
Rearrange the equation to the form \(\frac{x}{a} + \frac{y}{b} = 1\). Rearranging gives \(bx - ab = -ay\), which simplifies to \(x = \frac{ab}{b} - \frac{ay}{b}\) or \(x = a - \frac{ay}{b}\). Dividing both sides by a we get \(\frac{x}{a} = 1 - \frac{y}{b}\) and finally, \(\frac{x}{a} + \frac{y}{b} = 1\).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Equation of a Line
Understanding the equation of a line starts with recognizing its importance in geometry and algebra. It’s a way to express the infinite set of points that form a straight line in a two-dimensional space.
The two-point form of a line's equation is particularly useful because it allows us to find an equation by simply knowing two points the line passes through. This form is \[\frac{y - y_1}{x - x_1} = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1}\].
It efficiently sets up a relationship that can then be manipulated into other forms, like the slope-intercept form or standard form. Knowing two points like intercepts provides a straightforward way to construct the line's equation.
The two-point form of a line's equation is particularly useful because it allows us to find an equation by simply knowing two points the line passes through. This form is \[\frac{y - y_1}{x - x_1} = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1}\].
It efficiently sets up a relationship that can then be manipulated into other forms, like the slope-intercept form or standard form. Knowing two points like intercepts provides a straightforward way to construct the line's equation.
- This form is great for quick calculations since it directly uses available point coordinates.
- It's also a stepping stone to understanding more complex linear relationships.
Intercepts
Intercepts are key concepts in understanding how a line interacts with the coordinate axes. The x-intercept occurs where the line crosses the x-axis. This means at this point, the y-coordinate is zero.
Similarly, the y-intercept is where the line crosses the y-axis, making the x-coordinate zero at that point.
In the exercise, the intercepts are given as \((a, 0)\) and \((0, b)\). These serve as input values for the two-point form of the equation.
Similarly, the y-intercept is where the line crosses the y-axis, making the x-coordinate zero at that point.
In the exercise, the intercepts are given as \((a, 0)\) and \((0, b)\). These serve as input values for the two-point form of the equation.
- The x-intercept, \((a, 0)\), shows where the line dips or rises across the x-axis.
- The y-intercept, \((0, b)\), indicates where the line crosses vertically along the y-axis.
Cross Multiplication
Cross multiplication is a fundamental algebra technique that helps resolve equations involving fractions. In an expression like \(\frac{y}{x-a} = \frac{b}{a}\), cross multiplication eliminates the fractions.
This step results in multiplying each side’s numerator by the opposite side’s denominator, giving us a cleaner equation like \(ay = b(x-a)\).
This step results in multiplying each side’s numerator by the opposite side’s denominator, giving us a cleaner equation like \(ay = b(x-a)\).
- This method is handy in simplifying complex expressions.
- It ensures that all terms are properly aligned for further manipulations.
Rearranging Equations
Rearranging equations is the process of modifying an equation to achieve a specific form. In algebra, getting an equation into the desired form often means isolating a variable or arranging terms to simplify the expression.
In the given problem, we needed to show \(\frac{x}{a} + \frac{y}{b} = 1\). This required several steps of rearranging after using cross multiplication.
Rearranging typically involves:
In the given problem, we needed to show \(\frac{x}{a} + \frac{y}{b} = 1\). This required several steps of rearranging after using cross multiplication.
Rearranging typically involves:
- Distributing terms such as \(b\) in \(ax = b(x-a)\) to expand the equation.
- Combining or shifting terms across the equal sign to structure the equation into a familiar format.