MHB How do I find an equation of the line with a given x-intercept and point?

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To find the equation of the line that passes through the point (6, 2) and shares the x-intercept with the line -2x + y = 1, the x-intercept is calculated by setting y to 0, resulting in the point (-1/2, 0). With both points (-1/2, 0) and (6, 2), the slope can be computed. The point-slope formula is then applied using one of the points and the calculated slope. Finally, the equation is rearranged into the slope-intercept form y = ax + b.
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Find an equation of the line that passes through (6, 2) and has the same x-intercept as the line -2x + y = 1.

As a first step, I must let y = 0 in the given equation.

-2x + y = 1

-2x + 0 = 1

-2x = 1

x = -1/2

The x-intercept is (-1/2, 0) creating the second point needed to find the slope.

What is next?
 
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Okay, you now have two points on the line, so you can compute the slope, and then you have the slope and point(s) on the line, so the point-slope formula will be useful:

$$y-y_1=m\left(x-x_1\right)$$

:D
 
MarkFL said:
Okay, you now have two points on the line, so you can compute the slope, and then you have the slope and point(s) on the line, so the point-slope formula will be useful:

$$y-y_1=m\left(x-x_1\right)$$

:D

Perfect. It's easier than I thought.
 
Equivalently, any (non-vertical) line can be written in the form y= ax+ b. Knowing that the line goes through (-1/2, 0) tells you that 0= a(-1/2)+ b. Knowing that the line goes through (6, 2) tells you that 2= a(6)+ b, giving two equations to solve for a and b. You can immediately eliminate b by subtracting one equation from the other which gives precisely the previous method.
 
HallsofIvy said:
Equivalently, any (non-vertical) line can be written in the form y= ax+ b. Knowing that the line goes through (-1/2, 0) tells you that 0= a(-1/2)+ b. Knowing that the line goes through (6, 2) tells you that 2= a(6)+ b, giving two equations to solve for a and b. You can immediately eliminate b by subtracting one equation from the other which gives precisely the previous method.
Good data here.
 
Find an equation of the line that passes through (6, 2) and has the same x-intercept as the line -2x + y = 1.

As a first step, I must let y = 0 in the given equation.

-2x + y = 1

-2x + 0 = 1

-2x = 1

x = -1/2

The x-intercept is (-1/2, 0) creating the second point needed to find the slope.

I will now solve the given equation for y.

-2x + y = 1

y= 2x + 1

The equation I need to find can be found by finding the slope using (-1/2, 0) and (6, 2).

I then plug one of the points and the slope into the point-slope formula. As a last step, solve the equation for y.
 
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