 What is the Equation of Straight Line?

 The equation of a straight line is a linear equation in two variables (usually x and y) and is
satisfied by every point on the line. i.e., it is a mathematical equation that gives the relation
between the coordinate points lying on that straight line.

 The most common formulas to find equation of straight line are mentioned below.

Important Notes on Equation of

Straight Line:

 The equation of a straight line is also called a linear equation in two variables.
 If the product of slopes of two straight lines is -1, then lines are perpendicular to each other.
 If two straight lines are parallel to each other, then they have the same slope.
 Point Slope Form: (y - y1) = m (x - x1)
 Slope-Intercept Form: y = mx + c
 Standard Form = ax + by = c

Example 1: Find the equation of a straight line that passes through the points (1, 3) and (-2, 4). Write
the equation in slope-intercept or point-slope form.

Solution
x 1=1 , y1 =3 , x 2=−2 , y 2=4

First, we find the gradient

y 2−¿ y
m= 1
¿
x 2−¿x ¿
1
 4−3
m=
−2−1
−1
m=
3
Next, we use the values of x 1−¿ y ¿ and substitute this along with value of m into y=mx+c
1

−1
3= (1 )+ c
3
Next, we simplify to find c
1 −1 1
3+ = + +c
3 3 3
10
c=
3
−1 10
THE EQUATION WOULD THEN BE y= x+
3 3
In Slope intercept form
−1
As we already found the gradient, m= , we utilize the formula below
3
y− y 1=m ( x−x 1 ) + c
We now substitute our values accordingly
−1
y−3= ( x−1 )
3
−1 1
y−3= x+
3 3
1 −1
y−3− = x
3 3
10 −1
y− = x
3 3
−1 10
y= x+
3 3
Sometimes, we will be given the equation of the line and be asked to 1) transpose to get it in the slope
format and 2) accurately identify the different components.

Example
It is important to note that whatever method you use, you will obtain the same answer once your
calculations, using either method, are correct.