Find the equation of the line that goes through the points (12, 11) and (7,1)

8,4

Step-by-step explanation:

Step 1: Find the slope of the line.

Step 2: Use the slope to find the y-intercept.

Step 3: Use steps 1 and 2 to write the answer.

I will explain these steps by looking a several examples. Please understand that there are often several

different ways to complete each math problem, but I have found through the years that students are most

successful when the do problems the same way each and every time they attempt the problem. If you

know a different way to find the answer that is great, but I am going to show how to do the problem one

way and use the same technique everytime I see this problem.

Example 1: Find the equation of the line passing through the points (–1, –2) and (2, 7).

Step 1: Find the slope of the line.

To find the slope of the line passing through these two points we need to use the slope

formula:

( )

( )

So the slope of the slope of the line passing through these two points is 3.

Step 2: Use the slope to find the y-intercept.

Now that we know the slope of the line is 3 we can plug the slope into the equation and

we get:

y = 3x + b

Next choose one of the two point to plug in for the values of x and y. It does not matter

which one of the two points you choose because you should get the same answer in either

case. I generally just choose the first point listed so I don’t have to worry about which

one I should choose.

(–1, –2) → –2 = 3(–1) + b Multiply to simplify the problem.

–2 = –3 + b Solve for b and you will have the y-intercept.

b = 1

assuming this is from a math graphing problem.

7 would be on the x-axis which is the horizontal line on the graph

84 would be on the y-axis which is the vertical line on the graph