# Finding Equations of Lines

Want some practice with related concepts first?

Every non-vertical line in the coordinate plane can be described by an equation of the form $\,y = mx + b\,$, where:

The equation $\,y = mx + b\,$ is called the slope-intercept form of the line.

Two different points uniquely determine a line. One point and a slope also uniquely determine a line. This web exercise gives you practice writing the equation of the line in these two situations.

## Example (Known Point, Known Slope)

Question: Find the equation of the line with slope $\,3\,$ that passes through the point $\,(-1,5)\,.$ Write the equation in $\,y = mx + b\,$ form.
Solution:
 $y = mx + b$ A line with slope $\,3\,$ isn't vertical, so it can be described by an equation of this form. $y = 3x + b$ Substitute the known slope, $\,3\,,$ in for $\,m\,.$ Next, we must find $\,b\,.$ $5 = 3(-1) + b$ Since $\,(-1,5)\,$ lies on the line, substitution of $\,-1\,$ for $\,x\,$ and $\,5\,$ for $\,y\,$ makes the equation true. $5 = -3 + b$ simplify $\,b = 8\,$ add $\,3\,$ to both sides; write in the conventional way $y = 3x + 8$ substitute the now-known value of $\,b\,$ into the equation

Thus, the line with slope $\,3\,$ that passes through $\,(-1,5)\,$ is described by the equation $\,y = 3x + 8\,.$

Make sure you understand what this means! Let $\,\ell\,$ denote the line with slope $\,3\,$ that passes through the point $\,(-1,5)\,.$ Every point that lies on $\,\ell\,$ has coordinates that make the equation $\,y = 3x + 8\,$ true. Every point that doesn't lie on $\,\ell\,$ has coordinates that make the equation $\,y = 3x + 8\,$ false.

Head up to wolframalpha.com and type in:

y = 3x + 8, x = -1, y = 5

(Cut-and-paste, if you want.) You'll see a graph of the line, with the given point indicated by crosshairs. By adding in an additional set of crosshairs, you can see that going up $\,3\,$ and to the right $\,1\,$ brings you to another point on the line:

y = 3x + 8, x = -1, y = 5, x = 0, y = 8

## Example (Two Known Points)

Question: Find the equation of the line through the points $\,(2,-5)\,$ and $\,(-1,4)\,.$ Write the equation in $\,y = mx + b\,$ form.
Solution: First, use the slope formula to compute the slope: $$\cssId{s51}{\text{slope}} \cssId{s52}{= \frac{4-(-5)}{-1-2}} \cssId{s53}{= \frac{9}{-3}} \cssId{s54}{= -3}$$ Then, continue as in the previous example:
 $y = mx + b$ start with slope-intercept form $y = -3x + b$ substitute the now-known slope, $\,-3\,,$ in for $\,m\,$ $4 = -3(-1) + b$ Which point should you use? It doesn't matter! In general, try to choose the simplest numbers to work with. $4 = 3 + b$ simplify $\,b = 1\,$ subtract $\,3\,$ from both sides; write in the conventional way $y = -3x + 1$ substitute the now-known value of $\,b\,$ into the equation

You might want to check that the two points do indeed lie on the line:

$-5\ \overset{\text{?}}{ = } -3(2) + 1\,$     Check!
$4\ \overset{\text{?}}{ = } -3(-1) + 1\,$     Check!