Question

Use y = mx + b to determine the equation of a line with a slope -5, passing through the point (-2,4).

Answer 1

Answer:

$y=-5x-6$

Step-by-step explanation:

Hi there!

In $y=mx+b$, m is the slope of the line and b is the y-intercept (the value of y when x is 0). y and x remain the same but m and b are replaced with numbers.

Given that the slope is -5, plug it into $y=mx+b$:

$y=-5x+b$

Now, to solve for b, plug in the given point (-2,4):

$4=-5(-2)+b\\4=10+b$

Subtract 10 from both sides to isolate b:

$4-10=10+b-10\\-6=b$

Therefore, the y-intercept of this line is -6. Plug this back into $y=-5x+b$ as b:

$y=-5x-6$

I hope this helps!