Chapter 7: Problem 34
\(x\) intercept of \(-1\) and \(y\) intercept of \(-3\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
The line's equation is \(y = -3x - 3\).
Step by step solution
01
Identify the Objective
We need to find the equation of a line that has an x-intercept of -1 and a y-intercept of -3. The line's equation will be linear, in the form of \(y = mx + c\), where \(m\) is the slope and \(c\) is the y-intercept.
02
Determine Intercepts
The x-intercept means the line crosses the x-axis at \((-1, 0)\). The y-intercept means the line crosses the y-axis at \((0, -3)\). These points provide the values needed to find the slope.
03
Calculate the Slope
The slope \(m\) is calculated using the formula for slope: \(m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1}\). Substituting the intercept points \((x_1, y_1) = (-1, 0)\) and \((x_2, y_2) = (0, -3)\), we find \[m = \frac{-3 - 0}{0 - (-1)} = \frac{-3}{1} = -3.\]
04
Formulate the Equation
With the slope \(m = -3\) and y-intercept \(c = -3\), insert these into the slope-intercept form \(y = mx + c\) to get the equation \(y = -3x - 3\).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Understanding the X-Intercept
The x-intercept of a line is the point where the line crosses the x-axis. At this point, the value of y is zero. In simpler terms, it's where the line "touches" the x-axis. In our exercise, the x-intercept is given as -1. This means the line crosses the x-axis at the point \((-1, 0)\).
- To find an x-intercept, set \(y = 0\) in the equation of the line.
- Solve for \(x\) to find the specific x-intercept.
Exploring the Y-Intercept
The y-intercept of a line is the point where the line crosses the y-axis. Here, the value of x is zero. For our specific problem, the y-intercept is -3, meaning the line crosses the y-axis at the point \((0, -3)\).
- The y-intercept is often denoted by \(c\) in the slope-intercept form of a line.
- When the line's equation is given, you can find the y-intercept by setting \(x = 0\) and solving for \(y\).
Decoding the Slope-Intercept Form
The slope-intercept form of a linear equation is expressed as \(y = mx + c\). This form is popular because it provides straightforward information about the line's slope and y-intercept. In this form:
- \(m\) represents the slope of the line.
- \(c\) is the y-intercept.
- The slope \(m = -3\) indicates that the line falls downwards as you move from left to right.
- The y-intercept \(c = -3\) tells us the starting point of the line on the y-axis.
Mastering Slope Calculation
The slope of a line measures its steepness and direction. It is calculated using two points on the line. For our exercise, the relevant points are the intercepts \((-1, 0)\) and \((0, -3)\).
- The slope \(m\) is calculated by the formula \(m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1}\).
- Using our points, the calculation becomes \(m = \frac{-3 - 0}{0 - (-1)} = \frac{-3}{1} = -3\).