# Equation of secant line

1. Jan 28, 2008

### rocomath

Wow, someone asked me this question and I'm stumped.

Find the equation of the secant line that contain $$P[0,f(0)]$$ and $$Q[3,f(3)]$$

Am I given enough information to solve this?

$$m=\frac{f(x+h)-f(x)}{h}$$

...

$$m_1=\frac{f(h)-f(0)}{h}$$

$$m_2=\frac{f(3+h)-f(3)}{h}$$

That doesn't really help me though, unless I'm not thinking hard enough!

Last edited: Jan 28, 2008
2. Jan 28, 2008

### rock.freak667

Isn't a secant line just a straight line with those two points?

uhm....

$$m=\frac{f(3)-f(0)}{3-0}$$

but the answer would be in terms of f(3) and f(0)

Last edited: Jan 28, 2008
3. Jan 28, 2008

### rocomath

Yeah and I'm given 2 points and I need to find an equation that contains both. Hmm.

4. Jan 28, 2008

### rocomath

Oh I think I got it now, haha. My brain finally kicked in.

5. Jan 28, 2008

### rock.freak667

What was it? Finding the equation of a line given two points? Or was my brain malfunctioning as well?

6. Jan 28, 2008

### rocomath

Yeah, seems like the only thing to do.

$$m=\frac{f(3)-f(0)}{3}$$

$$y-f(0)=\frac{f(3)-f(0)}{3}(x-0)$$

Not sure what else to think of.

7. Jan 28, 2008

### rock.freak667

I would hope that is all there is to it.