Algebra Help!?

Question

Find the equation of the line passing through points (1,-11) and (6,-1).

The answer should be in y=mx+b form.

Using y1-y2 over x1-x2 only gives me the slope, not the equation of the line.

The directions say:

1)Find the slope first using y2-y1 over x2-x1.
2) Plug in the (x) value from the first ordered pair into x and the y value from the first ordered pair into y and given slope value into m.
3) Solve the equation for (b).
4) Rewrite the equation into y=mx+b form.



I understand how to use the direction, however the slope I get is -2/17 and I don't understand how to multiply it times 6 when plugging in 6 for the x value?

Answer 1

(1, -11)
-11=1m + b
-11-m=b
put this value into the next equation

(6, -1)
-1=6m + b
-1=6m + (-11-m)
10=5m
m=2
now put m into the equation above

-11-m=b
-11-2=b
-13=b

so...

y=2x-13

good luck...

Answer 2

You find the slope by using the formula y1-y2 over x1-x2 so it would fill out to be -1--11 over 6-1 which would equal 10 over 5. so then the slope is 10 over 5. and if reduced it would be 2 over 1. then you take one of the fractions and plug the numbers in. y=negative1, m= the slope 2, x= 6 and then you need to find b; its just a simple two step equation after that. then you would write it out with the answer pluged in but leave in the y and x.

Answer 3

use delta y1-y2 divided by x2- x1