Question

I have this point: (-1,2) and my slope is undefined. How would I write my equation in point-slope form: y - y^1 = m (x -x^1)? Thank You! ​

Answer 1

Answer:

x = -1

Step-by-step explanation:

Given the point, (-1, 2), and that the slope is undefined.

The standard linear equation of vertical lines is x = a, where the x-intercept is (a, 0), and the slope is undefined because all points on the line have the same x-coordinate.  Attempting to solve for the slope of a vertical line using the slope formula, m = (y₂ - y₁)/(x₂ - x₁), will result in a mathematical operation of division by zero (which is an undefined operation).  

Since the slope is undefined, then it is not possible to create a linear equation in either the slope-intercept form, or point-slope form.

Therefore, the equation of a vertical line given the point, (-1, 2) is x = -1.