The first step is to find the slope. Use the slope formula
m = (y2-y1)/(x2-x1)
The two points are (x1,y1) = (-1,5) and (x2,y2) = (2,-1)
So, x1 = -1 y1 = 5 and x2 = 2 y2 = -1 will be plugged into the slope formula to get... m = (y2-y1)/(x2-x1) m = (-1-5)/(2-(-1)) m = (-1-5)/(2+1) m = (-6)/(3) m = -2
The slope is -2
Use m = -2 and one of the points to find the y intercept b. I'll use the point (x,y) = (-1,5) ---> x = -1, y = 5
y = mx+b ... slope intercept form 5 = -2*(-1)+b 5 = 2+b 5-2 = 2+b-2 3 = b b = 3
The y intercept is 3
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m = -2 is the slope b = 3 is the y intercept
Therefore y = mx+b turns into y = -2x+3 as the equation that goes through the two points
