Question

Find the slope then write an equation for the line that passes through each pair of points (-16, 1), (-2, -6)

Answer 1

We have the following:

The equation in slope form y y-intercept is as follows

$y=mx+b$

The slope formula is as follows

$m=\frac{y_2-y_1}{x_2-x_1}$

replacing:

$m=\frac{-6-1}{-2-(-16)}=\frac{-7}{-2+16}=\frac{-7}{14}=-\frac{1}{2}$

now, for b, m = -1/2, x = -16 and y = 1

replacing:

$\begin{gathered} 1=-\frac{1}{2}\cdot-16+b \\ 1=8+b \\ b=1-8 \\ b=-7 \end{gathered}$

The equation is:

$y=-\frac{1}{2}x-7$