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2-2 Linear Equations - Slope
2-2 Linear Equations - Slope
Linear Equations in
Two Variables
Equations of the form ax + by = c are called
linear equations in two variables.
y
This is the graph of the (0,4)
equation 2x + 3y = 12.
(6,0)
x
-2 2
m=0
x
2
-2 1
m=-
4
y2 y1
m= , (x1 x2 ).
x2 x1
y
The slope is the (x2, y2)
change in y divided
y2 y1
by the change in x as
change in y
we move along the (x1, y1) x2 x1
line from (x1, y1) to change in x
(x2, y2). x
y2 y1 53 2
m= = = =1
x2 x1 42 2
y
(4, 5)
(2, 3) 2
2
x
Copyright by Houghton Mifflin Company, Inc. All rights reserved. 5
A linear equation written in the form y = mx + b is in
slope-intercept form.
The slope is m and the y-intercept is (0, b).
To graph an equation in slope-intercept form:
4. Draw the line through (0, b) and the point located using the
slope.
Copyright by Houghton Mifflin Company, Inc. All rights reserved. 6
Example: Graph the line y = 2x 4.
1. The equation y = 2x 4 is in the slope-intercept form. So,
m = 2 and b = - 4. y
2. Plot the y-intercept, (0, - 4).
x
3. The slope is 2. m = change in y = 2
change in x 1 (1, -2)
4. Start at the point (0, 4). 2
(0, - 4)
Count 1 unit to the right and 2 units up 1
to locate a second point on the line.
The point (1, -2) is also on the line.
Example: y
The graph of the equation 1
8 m=-
y 3 = - 1 (x 4) is a line 2
2 4 (4, 3)
of slope m = - 1 passing
2
through the point (4, 3). x
4 8
y 5 = 3(x + 2) Simplify.
y = 3x + 11 Slope-intercept form
1 1
y3=- (x 4) Use m = - and the point (4, 3).
3 3
y = - 1 x + 13 Slope-intercept form
3 3
(0, 4)
Example:
The lines y = 2x 3
y = 2x + 4
and y = 2x + 4 have slopes
m1 = 2 and m2 = 2. x
y = 2x 3
The lines are parallel.
(0, -3)
y = - 1 x + 4 have slopes
3 x
m1 = 3 and m2 = - 1 .
3 (0, -1)
The lines are perpendicular.