Point-Slope Form

Linear Equations in
Two Variables
What we Know so far….

Slope Intercept Form

y  mx  b

Where m is the slope and b

is the intercept
Point- Slope Form

Point- Slope form is:

y  y1  m( x  x1 )
Where m is the slope
and (x1, y1) is the
given point
Write the Equation in Point-Slope Form
1
m   and (1,6)
3
Step 1: Plug it in
y  y1  m( x  x1 )
Point- Slope Form

Slope – Intercept Form

 A linear equation written in the form
y – y1 = m(x – x1) is in point-slope form.
The graph of this equation is a line with slope m
passing through the point (x1, y1).

Plot the point, then rise & run from there….

y
Example:
1
The graph of the equation 8 m=-
1 2
y – 3 = - 2(x – 4) is a line 4 (4, 3)
1
of slope m = - 2 passing
x
through the point (4, 3). 4 8
5
 Using Point-Slope Form
5
We need the slope and a point: m  and ( 2,2)
2
5
4 Plug them into the
3 (2,2) point-slope form
2
1
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5
y  y1  m( x  x1 )
-1
-2 Point – Slope Form
-3
-4 5
y  2  ( x  2)
-5
2
Example: Write the point-slope form for the equation of the
line through the point (-2, 5) with a slope of 3.

Use the point-slope form, y – y1 = m(x – x1), with m = 3 and

(x1, y1) = (-2, 5).
y – y1 = m(x – x1)

y – 5 = 3(x – (-2)) Let m = 3, let (x1, y1) = (-2, 5).

y – 5 = 3(x + 2) Simplify into point-slope form

7
 Given two points, write the equation of a
line in point-slope form
(2,-3) and (4,-2)
Steps:

1. Find slope 2. Place a point and 3. Point-Slope form

2  3 2  3 1 the slope in into point 1
  slope form y  3  ( x  2)
4 2 2 2
y  y1  m(x  x1 ) 2
1
y  3  (x  2) Solve for y
2 & get ..
1
y  3  (x  2) Slope-intercept form
2 1
y x4
2
 To write point-slope into slope-intercept:

Simplify using distributive

property, then move the constant to
the right side & combine like terms
5
y  2  ( x  2)
2
5
y  ( x  2)  2
2
5
y  x52
2
5
y  x3
2
Example: Write the slope-intercept form for the
equation of the line through the points (4, 3) and (-2, 5).

5–3 =- 2 =- 1
m= Calculate the slope.
-2 – 4 6 3
y – y1 = m(x – x1) Point-slope form

1 1
y – 3 = - (x – 4) Use m = - and the point (4, 3).
3 3
Solve for y…

y = - 1 x + 13 Slope-intercept form
3 3

10
 A Challenge

Can you write the equation of a line in point-slope

form that passes through (-3,6) and (1,-2)
m= 6+2 =- 8 =- 2 Calculate the slope.
-3 – 1 4 1
y – y1 = m(x – x1) Use m = - 2 and the point (1, -2).
y + 2 = - 2 (x – 1) Point-Slope Form
y = -2(x – 1) - 2
y = -2x + 2 - 2
Slope-Intercept Form
y = -2x + 0 y = -2x