THE GENERAL EQUATION

OF A STRAIGHT LINE
 y y  2x  3
The diagram shows the
graph of y  2x  3.
4

3
10
Gradient = 2 2
5
10
x
-4 -2 2 4
The y–intercept = 3

-2

This important result can be

written as follows: -4
5

The graph of y = mx + c is a straight line where

m = the gradient
and
c = the y-intercept.
Examples

1 Find the gradient and y-intercept for the line y  3x  4.

y  3x  4

y  mx  c
m3 c  4
gradient = 3 y-intercept = −4
2 Find the gradient and y-intercept for the line 2x  y  6.

2x  y  6
y  2x  6

y  mx  c
m  2 c6
gradient = −2 y-intercept = 6
2 A line is parallel to the liney  3x  4 and passes through the
point (5, 1). Find the equation of the line.

y  3x  4

y  mx  c Parallel lines have

the same gradient.
m3

The equation of the parallel line is y  3x  c.

The line passes through the point (5, 1) so substitute

x = 5 and y = 1 into the equation.

1 5  3  c

c  14

The equation is: y  3x  14

Finding the equation of a line passing through two given points

Examples

1 Find the equation of the line passing through (0, 3) and (4, 5).
x
2 1 1 (4, 5)
Gradient =  m=
4 2 2
2
(0, 3)
y-intercept = 3 c=3 4

y
1
The equation is: y  x3
2
2 Find the equation of the line passing through (-1, 4) and (5, 2).
x
2 1 1
Gradient =   m =
6 3 3 (-1, 4)
1 2
y   xc (5, 2)
3 6

The point (5, 2) lies on the line so y

substitute x = 5 and y = 2 into the equation.

1
2 5c
3
2
c3
3
1 2
The equation is: y   x  3
3 3
Finding the midpoint of a line

The midpoint of a line segment can be found using a

diagram or by using the following rule:

Midpoint = (mean of the x coordinates, mean of the y coordinates)

Examples

1 Find the midpoint of the line joining the points (1, 6) and (9, 2).

1 9 10
Mean of x coordinates =  5
2 2
62 8
Mean of y coordinates =  4
2 2

Midpoint = (5, 4)
2 Find the midpoint of the line joining the points (-2, 4) and (6, 2).
2  6 4
Mean of x coordinates =  2
2 2
42 6
Mean of y coordinates =  3
2 2

Midpoint = (2, 3)

3 Find the midpoint of the line joining the points (3, -5) and (-9, -7).

3  9 6
Mean of x coordinates =   3
2 2
5  7 12
Mean of y coordinates =   6
2 2

Midpoint = (-3, -6)