Question

What is the equation of the line that passes through the point (-6,8) and has a slope of -5/3?

Answer 1

Answer:

y = -5/3 - 8

Step-by-step explanation:

We want to write this in the form y = mx + b.  We need to find the m (slope) and the b (y-intercept) ,  Whew, they already gave us the slope, so we are have way there.  I will plug in the x and y that we are given from the point (-6, 8) to solve for b.

y = mx + b

8 = -5/3(-6) + b  Multiply the fraction by -6

8 = 30/3 + b  I can make 6 a fraction by writing it 6/1 and then just multiply straight across.  A negative times a negative is a positive.

8 = 10 + b   30/3 is equal to 10.  Now subtract 10 from both sides to get b

-8 = b

I can now write the equations since I now know m and b.

y = -5/3 + (-8) which is the same as y = -5/3 - 8.  Adding a negative is the same as subtracting a positive.