Equations of a Line

1 The two-point form

2 Point-Slope form
.

.
3 Slope-intercept form
.

.
4 Eqn’s of Vertical and Horizontal Lines
 GIVEN: (𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ) and 𝑥2 , 𝑦2
𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚𝟏
𝒚 − 𝒚𝟏 = 𝒙 − 𝒙𝟏
.
𝒙 𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏
.

.
 Find the equation of the line that
passes through the points 2,3
and 6,4 .

Solution.
𝒚𝟐 −𝒚𝟏 1
𝒚 − 𝒚𝟏 = (𝒙 − 𝒙𝟏 ) 𝒚−3= (𝒙 − 2 )
𝒙𝟐 −𝒙𝟏 4
.

𝒚−3=
4−3
(𝒙 − 2 ) 1 2
.
6−2 𝒚−3= 𝑥−
. 4 4
.

.
 1 1
𝒚−3= 𝑥−
4 2

1 1
𝒚= 𝑥− +3
4 2
1 −1 + 6
𝒚= 𝑥+
4 2
.

.
1 5
.
𝒚= 𝑥+
. 4 2
.

.
 Check Your Progress
What is the equation of the line that
2
passes through the points 𝑃1 − , 2 and
3
1 1
𝑃2 ,
3 2
.

.
 Answer

𝟑
𝒚=− 𝒙+𝟏
𝟐
.

.
 GIVEN: (𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ) and 𝑚

𝒚 − 𝒚𝟏 = 𝒎 (𝒙 − 𝒙𝟏 )
.

.
 Find the equation of the line that
passes through the point 1, −2
and has a slope of 3.

Solution.

𝒚 − 𝒚 𝟏 = 𝑚 𝒙 − 𝒙𝟏 𝒚 = 3𝑥 − 5
.

. 𝒚 − (−2) = 3 𝒙 − 1
.

.
𝒚 + 2 = 3𝑥 − 3
 GIVEN: (0, 𝑏) and 𝑚

𝒚 − 𝒚𝒚𝟏 = 𝒎𝒙
𝒎(𝒙+−𝒃𝒙𝟏 )
.

.
 Determine the slope and 𝑦-
intercept of the linear equation
𝑥+𝑦=2

Solution.
𝑥+𝑦 =2
.

. 𝑚 = −1
.
𝑦 = −𝑥 + 2 𝑦-intercept: 0,2
.

.
 .
𝒙=𝒂 𝒚=𝒃
.

.
 Determine the equation of the
vertical line that passes through
the point 5, −2

𝑦
Answer.
.
𝑥=5
.
𝑥
. 5
.
-2
.

.
 .