Writing Equations of Lines

Learning Outcomes

  • Use slope-intercept form to plot and write equations of lines.
  • Use point-slope form to write the equation of a line.
  • Write the equation of a line in standard form.
  • Recognize vertical and horizontal lines from their graphs and equations.

Slope-Intercept Form

Perhaps the most familiar form of a linear equation is slope-intercept form written as [latex]y=mx+b[/latex], where [latex]m=\text{slope}[/latex] and [latex]b=y\text{-intercept}[/latex]. Let us begin with the slope.

The Slope of a Line

The slope of a line refers to the ratio of the vertical change in y over the horizontal change in x between any two points on a line. It indicates the direction in which a line slants as well as its steepness. Slope is sometimes described as rise over run.

[latex]m=\frac{{y}_{2}-{y}_{1}}{{x}_{2}-{x}_{1}}[/latex]

If the slope is positive, the line slants upward to the right. If the slope is negative, the line slants downward to the right. As the slope increases, the line becomes steeper. Some examples are shown below. The lines indicate the following slopes: [latex]m=-3[/latex], [latex]m=2[/latex], and [latex]m=\frac{1}{3}[/latex].

Coordinate plane with the x and y axes ranging from negative 10 to 10. Three linear functions are plotted: y = negative 3 times x minus 2; y = 2 times x plus 1; and y = x over 3 plus 2.

A General Note: The Slope of a Line

The slope of a line, m, represents the change in y over the change in x. Given two points, [latex]\left({x}_{1},{y}_{1}\right)[/latex] and [latex]\left({x}_{2},{y}_{2}\right)[/latex], the following formula determines the slope of a line containing these points:

[latex]m=\frac{{y}_{2}-{y}_{1}}{{x}_{2}-{x}_{1}}[/latex]

Example: Finding the Slope of a Line Given Two Points

Find the slope of a line that passes through the points [latex]\left(2,-1\right)[/latex] and [latex]\left(-5,3\right)[/latex].

Try It

Find the slope of the line that passes through the points [latex]\left(-2,6\right)[/latex] and [latex]\left(1,4\right)[/latex].

Example: Identifying the Slope and y-intercept of a Line Given an Equation

Identify the slope and y-intercept given the equation [latex]y=-\frac{3}{4}x - 4[/latex].

Recall operations on fractions

Fractions are commonly encountered when writing equations for lines using the point-slope formula. Being able to multiply or add and subtract fractions will enable you to avoid decimal approximations for numbers like [latex]\dfrac{1}{3}[/latex] or [latex]\dfrac{5}{7}[/latex].

Adding or subtracting fractions: [latex]\dfrac{a}{b}\pm\dfrac{c}{d} = \dfrac{ad \pm bc}{bd}[/latex]

Multiplying fractions: [latex]\dfrac{a}{b}\cdot\dfrac{c}{d} = \dfrac {ac}{bd}[/latex]

Don’t forget to simplify fractions in your final answer!

The Point-Slope Formula

Given the slope and one point on a line, we can find the equation of the line using point-slope form.

[latex]y-{y}_{1}=m\left(x-{x}_{1}\right)[/latex]

This is an important formula, as it will be used in other areas of College Algebra and often in Calculus to find the equation of a tangent line. We need only one point and the slope of the line to use the formula. After substituting the slope and the coordinates of one point into the formula, we simplify it and write it in slope-intercept form.

A General Note: The Point-Slope Formula

Given one point and the slope, using point-slope form will lead to the equation of a line:

[latex]y-{y}_{1}=m\left(x-{x}_{1}\right)[/latex]

Example: Finding the Equation of a Line Given the Slope and One Point

Write the equation of the line with slope [latex]m=-3[/latex] and passing through the point [latex]\left(4,8\right)[/latex]. Write the final equation in slope-intercept form.

Try It

Given [latex]m=4[/latex], find the equation of the line in slope-intercept form passing through the point [latex]\left(2,5\right)[/latex].

Example: Finding the Equation of a Line Passing Through Two Given Points

Find the equation of the line passing through the points [latex]\left(3,4\right)[/latex] and [latex]\left(0,-3\right)[/latex]. Write the final equation in slope-intercept form.

Standard Form of a Line

Another way that we can represent the equation of a line is in standard form. Standard form is given as

[latex]Ax+By=C[/latex]

where [latex]A[/latex], [latex]B[/latex], and [latex]C[/latex] are integers. The x and y-terms are on one side of the equal sign and the constant term is on the other side.

Example: Finding the Equation of a Line and Writing It in Standard Form

Find the equation of the line with [latex]m=-6[/latex] and passing through the point [latex]\left(\frac{1}{4},-2\right)[/latex]. Write the equation in standard form.

Try It

Find the equation of the line in standard form with slope [latex]m=-\frac{1}{3}[/latex] which passes through the point [latex]\left(1,\frac{1}{3}\right)[/latex].

Vertical and Horizontal Lines

Most of the lines we have worked with so far have been slanted, or oblique. In other words, they were neither horizontal nor vertical lines. The equations of vertical and horizontal lines do not require any of the preceding formulas, although we can use the formulas to prove that the equations are correct. The equation of a vertical line is given as

[latex]x=c[/latex]

where c is a constant. The slope of a vertical line is undefined, and regardless of the y-value of any point on the line, the x-coordinate of the point will be c.

Suppose that we want to find the equation of a line containing the following points: [latex]\left(-3,-5\right),\left(-3,1\right),\left(-3,3\right)[/latex], and [latex]\left(-3,5\right)[/latex]. First, we will find the slope.

[latex]m=\frac{5 - 3}{-3-\left(-3\right)}=\frac{2}{0}[/latex]

Zero in the denominator means that the slope is undefined and, therefore, we cannot use point-slope form. However, we can plot the points. Notice that all of the x-coordinates are the same and we find a vertical line through [latex]x=-3[/latex].

The equation of a horizontal line is given as

[latex]y=c[/latex]

where c is a constant. The slope of a horizontal line is zero, and for any x-value of a point on the line, the y-coordinate will be c.

Suppose we want to find the equation of a line that contains the following set of points: [latex]\left(-2,-2\right),\left(0,-2\right),\left(3,-2\right)[/latex], and [latex]\left(5,-2\right)[/latex]. We can use point-slope form. First, we find the slope using any two points on the line.

[latex]\begin{array}{l}m=\frac{-2-\left(-2\right)}{0-\left(-2\right)}\hfill \\ =\frac{0}{2}\hfill \\ =0\hfill \end{array}[/latex]

Use any point for [latex]\left({x}_{1},{y}_{1}\right)[/latex] in the formula, or use the y-intercept.

[latex]\begin{array}{l}y-\left(-2\right)=0\left(x - 3\right)\hfill \\ y+2=0\hfill \\ y=-2\hfill \end{array}[/latex]

The graph is a horizontal line through [latex]y=-2[/latex]. Notice that all of the y-coordinates are the same.

Coordinate plane with the x-axis ranging from negative 7 to 4 and the y-axis ranging from negative 4 to 4. The function y = negative 2 and the line x = negative 3 are plotted.

The line x = −3 is a vertical line. The line y = −2 is a horizontal line.

try it

Use an online graphing calculator to graph the following:

  1. A horizontal line that passes through the point (-5,2)
  2. A vertical line that passes through the point (3,3)

Example: Finding the Equation of a Line Passing Through the Given Points

Find the equation of the line passing through the given points: [latex]\left(1,-3\right)[/latex] and [latex]\left(1,4\right)[/latex].

Try It

Find the equation of the line passing through [latex]\left(-5,2\right)[/latex] and [latex]\left(2,2\right)[/latex].