CHAPTER 3
Lines
3.1 Find the slope of the line through the points (—2, 5) and (7,1).
Remember that the slope m of the line through two points (xlt y j and (x2, y2) is given by the equation
Hence, the slope of the given line is
3.2 Find a point-slope equation of the line through the points (1, 3) and (3, 6).
The slope m of the given line is (6 - 3)/(3 - 1) = |. Recall that the point-slope equation of the line through
point (x1, y^) and with slope m is y — yt = tn(x — *,). Hence, one point-slope equation of the given line, using
the point (1, 3), is y — 3 = \(x — 1). Answer
Another point-slope equation, using the point (3,6), is y - 6 = \(x — 3). Answer
3.3 Write a point-slope equation of the line through the points (1,2) and (1,3).
The line through (1,2) and (1,3) is vertical and, therefore, does not have a slope. Thus, there is no
point-slope equation of the line.
3.4 Find a point-slope equation of the line going through the point (1,3) with slope 5.
y -3 = 5(* - 1). Answer
3.5 Find the slope of the line having the equation y - 7 = 2(x - 3) and find a point on the line.
y — 7 = 2(x - 3) is a point-slope equation of the line. Hence, the slope m = 2, and (3, 7) is a point on
the line.
3.6 Find the slope-intercept equation of the line through the points (2,4) and (4,8).
Remember that the slope-intercept equation of a line is y = mx + b, where m is the slope and b is the
y-intercept (that is, the v-coordinate of the point where the line cuts the y-axis). In this case, the slope
m = (8-4)7(4-2) = | = 2 .
Method 1. A point-slope equation of the line is y - 8 = 2(* — 4). This is equivalent to y - 8 = 2* — 8, or,
finally, to y = 2x. Answer
Method 2. The slope-intercept equation has the form y = 2x + b. Since (2,4) lies on the line, we may
substitute 2 for x and 4 for y. So, 4 = 2 - 2 + 6 , and, therefore, b = 0. Hence, the equation is y = 2x.
Answer
3.7 Find the slope-intercept equation of the line through the points (—1,6) and (2,15).
The slope m = (15 -6)/[2- (-1)] = 1 = 3. Hence, the slope-intercept equation looks like y=3x+b.
Since (-1, 6) is on the line, 6 = 3 • (— \) + b, and therefore, b = 9. Hence, the slope-intercept equation is
y = 3x + 9.
3.8 Find the slope-intercept equation of the line through (2, —6) and the origin.
The origin has coordinates (0,0). So, the slope m = (-6 - 0) 1(2 - 0) = -1 = -3. Since the line cuts the
y-axis at (0, 0), the y-intercept b is 0. Hence, the slope-intercept equation is y = -3x.
3.9 Find the slope-intercept equation of the line through (2,5) and (—1, 5).
The line is horizontal. Since it passes through (2,5), an equation for it is y = 5 . But, this is the
slope-intercept equation, since the slope m = 0 and the y-intercept b is 5.