Some useful information about lines
![]() | |
The most difficult part of working with points, slopesand lines is determining which formula to use when solving specific problems.When you are trying to solve a problem, ask yourself these questions:
- What am I supposed to find?
- What do I already know?
- What method will I use?
The chart below outlines the methods that are appropriateto use when solving specific types of problems.
Slope of a line | Coordinates of two points on theline | Use the slope formula |
Slope and y-intercept of a line | Equation of a line in standardform | Write the equation in slope-interceptform |
Equation of a line | Slope of the line and a pointon that line | Use the point-slope formula |
Equation of a line | Slope and y-intercept of a line | Use the slope-intercept formula |
Equation of a line | Coordinates of two points on theline | Use the slope formula to findthe slope of the line, then use the slope and one of the points in thepoint-slope formula |
Equation of a line parallel toa given line | Equation of the given parallelline and a point on your line | Write the equation of the givenline in slope-intercept form to determine its slope, then use that sameslope and your point in the point-slope formula |
Equation of a line perpendicularto a given line | Equation of the given perpendicularline and a point on your line | Write the equation of the givenline in slope-intercept form to determine its slope, then use the oppositereciprocal of that slope and your point in the point-slope formula |
Let's look at some examples.
Example 1 What is the slope of a line through thepoints (2,3) and (4,-5) ?
What do we already know? Two points on the line
What method will we use? Use the slope formula
Example 2 What are the slope and y-interceptof 2x - 3y = 5 ?
What do we already know? The equation of a linein standard form
What method will we use? Write the equation inslope-intercept form
2x - 3y = 5
- 3y = - 2x + 5
y = 2/3 x - 5/3
Since the equation now is in y = mx + b form, we can identifythe slope m=2/3 and the y-intercept b=-5/3
Example 3 What is the equation of a line withslope - 2 which passes through (3,-5)?
What do we already know? The slope and a pointon the line
What method will we use? Use the point-slope formula
m = -2, (x1, y1) = (3, -5)
y - y1 = m(x - x1)
y - -5 = -2(x - 3)
y + 5 = -2x + 6
y = -2x + 1
Example 4 What is the equation of a line withslope 3/4 and y-intercept - 3?
What do we already know? The slope and y-intercept
What method will we use? Use the slope-interceptformula
m = 3/4, b = -3
y = mx + b
y = 3/4 x + -3
y = 3/4 x - 3
Example 5 What is the equation of a line thatcontains the points (3,4) and (1,-2)?
What do we already know? Two points on the line
What method will we use? Use the slope formulato find the slope of the line, then use the slope and one of the pointsin the point-slope formula
Now use one of the points and our slope in the point-slopeformula:
m= 3
y - y1 = m(x - x1)
y - 4 = 3(x - 3)
y - 4 = 3x - 9
y = 3x - 5
What do we already know? A point on our line andthe equation of a line parallel to our line
What method will we use? Write the equation ofthe given line in slope-intercept form to determine its slope, then usethat same slope and your point in the point-slope formula
3x - y = 5
- y = - 3x + 5
y = 3x - 5
m = 3, b = - 5
So the slope of the given line is 3
Parallel lines have equal slopes, so the slope of ourline is also 3. Our line also goes through the point (-1,4), so we'll writean equation with the point-slope formula.
y - y1 = m(x - x1)
y - 4 = 3(x - - 1)
y - 4 = 3(x + 1)
y - 4 = 3x + 3
y = 3x + 7
Example 7 Find the equation of the line through(4,-1) that is perpendicular to 4x+3y=2
What do we already know? A point on our line andthe equation of a line perpendicular to our line
What method will we use? Write the equation ofthe given line in slope-intercept form to determine its slope, then usethe opposite reciprocal of that slope and your point in the point-slopeformula
4x + 3y = 2
3y = - 4x + 2
y = - 4/3 x + 2/3
m = - 4/3, b = 2/3
Perpendicular lines have slopes that are opposite reciprocals,so the slope of our line is the opposite reciprocal of -4/3, or 3/4. Ourline also goes through the point (4,-1), so we'll write an equation withthe point-slope formula.
y - y1 = m(x - x1)
y - - 1 = 3/4(x - 4)
y + 1 = 3/4 x - 3
y = 3/4 x - 4