Introduction to Calculus: Background You’ll Need 4

  • Write linear equations using point-slope form

Point-Slope Form of a Linear Equation

A linear equation represents a straight line. When the slope of a line and a point on the line are known, the equation can be written using point-slope form.

Point-slope form

The point-slope form of a linear equation is
[latex]y - y_1 = m(x - x_1)[/latex],
where [latex]m[/latex] is the slope and ([latex]x_1, y_1[/latex]) is a point on the line.

Write the equation of the line with a slope, [latex]m=3[/latex], that passes through the point [latex](2,-4)[/latex].