- #1
flyingpig
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Homework Statement
Yeah that always confuses me, why do books sometiems refer lines implicitly?
hunt_mat said:I write the equation of the line [tex]y=mx+c[/tex]...
It's more general, when you come on to planes which are written [tex]ax+by+cz=d[/tex], it's a nice generalisation of the equation of the line.
hunt_mat said:I was attempting some humour there...
But the point is well said, i normally just write x=k for vertical lines.
The standard form of a line, ax + by = c, is often used in mathematics and science because it allows for a more general representation of a line. This form is useful for solving problems involving equations with multiple variables and is commonly used in systems of equations and linear programming.
The order of the variables, ax + by = c, is not arbitrary. The letters a and b represent the coefficients of the x and y terms, respectively. By writing the equation in this order, it is easier to see the relationship between the coefficients and the corresponding variables.
The slope-intercept form, y = mx + b, is often taught in schools because it is a more intuitive way of understanding the slope and y-intercept of a line. This form is useful for graphing lines and understanding their behavior. It is also a more convenient form for solving problems involving finding the slope or y-intercept of a line.
Yes, the standard form, ax + by = c, can be converted to the slope-intercept form, y = mx + b, by solving for y. This involves isolating the y variable on one side of the equation and simplifying the remaining terms. The resulting equation will have the same slope and y-intercept as the original equation.
Yes, there are advantages to using the standard form of a line. As mentioned before, it is useful for solving problems involving equations with multiple variables. Additionally, it is a more general form that can be used for a variety of mathematical and scientific applications. In some cases, the standard form may also be easier to work with algebraically compared to the slope-intercept form.