Chapter 3.

5
Equations of lines
Objectives
Use the slope-intercept form to write the
equation of a line.
Graph a line using its slope and y-intercept
Use the point-slope form to write the equation
of a line
Write equations of vertical and horizontal
lines.
Find equations of parallel and perpendicular
lines.
Example 1
Write the equation of the line with y-intercept
(0,-3) and slope of 1/4.

Step 1: Start with the equation:
y = mx + b
where m = and b = -3
Step 2: Substitute
y = x - 3
Give it a try!
Write an equation of the line with y-intercept
(0, -) and slope 5.




y= 5x
Concept Check
What is wrong with the following equation of
a line with y-intercept (0,4) and slope 2?
y = 4x + 2



y-intercept and slope were switched, should be
y = 2x + 4
Example 2
Graph: y = x 3

Slope of this graph is and the y-intercept is
(0,-3)

First graph the y - intercept
Graph
Give it a try
Graph:
2
1
3
y x
Graph
Example 3
Graph 2x + 3y = 12
Step 1: Solve the equation to write it in
slope-intercept form.
2x + 3y = 12
3y = -2x + 12

2
4
3
y x
Graph
Give it a try
Graph 3x + y = - 2
Graph
Writing the equation of line when given
slope and a point
When the slope of a line and a point on the
line are known, the equation of the line can
also be found. To do this, use the slope
formula to write the slope of a line that
passes through (x
1
, y
1
) and (x,y)
We have:

You will obtain: y y
1
= m(x x
1
)
1
1
y y
m
x x

Next, multiply both sides of the

equation by x x
1
Point Slope Form
Point Slope Form of the Equation of a Line
The point slope form of the equation of a line is
y y
1
= m(x x
1
), where m is the slope of the line
and (x
1
, y
1
) is a point on the line.

Example 4 Finding equation of a line
Find an equation of the line with slope -3
containing the point (1,-5). Write the equation
in slope-intercept form y = mx+b

What we know.m = -3 and (x
1
,y
1
) = (1,5)
Example 4 Continued
Substitute into point-slope form
y y
1
= m(x x
1
)
y (-5) = (-3)( x (1))
y + 5 = -3x + 3
y = - 3x 2

***Remember Slope-intercept form
means the equation is solved for y.
Give it a try!
Write an equation of the line with slope -2
and containing the point (2,-4). Write the
equation in slope-intercept form, y = mx+b




y = -2x
Example 5
Find and equation of the line through points
(4,0) and (-4,-5). Write the equation using
function notation.
Step 1: Find the slope of the line.




5 0 5 5
4 4 8 8
m



Example 5
Step 2: Use point-slope form. Replace (x
1
,
y
1
) by either (4,0) or (-4, -5) in the point-slope
equation.




1 1
( ) y y m x x

5
0 4
8
y x
5 20
8 8
y x
5 5
8 2
y x
Example 5: Function Notation
Write in function notation

5 5
8 2
y x
5 5
( )
8 2
f x x
Give it a try!
Write an equation of the line through points
(3,0) and (-2,4). Write the equation using
function notation.
Example 6: Refer to page 184
Example 7: Horizontal Line
Find an equation of the horizontal line
containing the point (2,3).

Remember A horizontal line has an
equation of the form y=b. Since the line
contains the point (2,3) the equation is
y = 3
Graph
Give it a try!
Write an equation of the vertical line
containing the point (-1,6)

Graph
Example 8
Find an equation of the line containing the
point (2,3) with undefined slope.
What we knowthe line must be vertical
since it has an undefined slope
A vertical line has an equation of the form
x = c
Since the line contains the point (2,3) the
equation is x = 2
Graph
Give it a try!
Write an equation of the line containing the
point (4,7) with slope, 0
Example 9: Parallel Lines
Find an equation of the line containing the
point (4,4) and parallel to the line
2x + 3y = -6. Write the equation in standard
form.
Since the lines are parallel they must have
the same slope. Write the equation in slope
intercept form to find the slope.
Example 9: continued
2x + 3y = -6
3y = -2x 6


The slope of the line is

2
2
3
y x
2
3

Example 9: Continued
The line contains the point (4,4)
y y
1
= m(x x
1
)


3(y-4) = -2(x 4)
3y 12 = -2x + 8
2x + 3y = 20
2
4 ( 4)
3
y x
Give it a try!
Write an equation of the line containing the
point (-1,2) and parallel to the line 3x + y = 5.
write the equation in standard form.
Example 10: Perpendicular Lines
Write the function that describes the line
containing the point (4,4) and is
perpendicular to the line 2x + 3y = -6
In example 9 we found the slope of the lien
2x + 3y = -6 is -2/3. A line perpendicular to
this line will have a slope that is the negative
reciprocal of -2/3 or 3/2.
Example 10: Continued
From the point slope equation we have:
y y
1
= m(x x
1
)

2(y 4) = 3(x 4)
2y 8 = 3x 12
2 y = 3x 4

3
4 ( 4)
2
y x
3
2
2
y x
3
( ) 2
2
f x x
Forms of Linear Equations
Ax + By = C
Standard form of a
linear equation A and B are
both not 0
y = mx + b
Slope intercept form of a
linear equation. The slope
is m, and the y-intercept is
(0,b).


y y
1
= m(x x
1
)
Point-slope form of a
linear equation The slope is
m, and (x
1
, y
1
) is a point on the
line.
y = c
Horizontal line the slope is 0
and y-intercept is (0,c)
x = c
Vertical line the slope is
undefined and the x-intercept
is (c,0)

Parallel and perpendicular lines Nonvertical parallel lines have the same slope.
The product of the slopes of two nonvertical perpendicular lines is -1.