Problem 13

Question

Determine the equation of the line that satisfies the stated requirements. Put the equation in standard form. The line passing through \((0,3)\) and \((2,1)\)

Step-by-Step Solution

Verified
Answer
The standard form of the equation is \(x + y = 3\).
1Step 1: Find the slope (m) of the line
The slope of a line passing through two points is given by the formula: \[ m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1} \] Substituting in the points \((x_1, y_1) = (0, 3)\) and \((x_2, y_2) = (2, 1)\), we find:\[ m = \frac{1 - 3}{2 - 0} = \frac{-2}{2} = -1 \]
2Step 2: Find the y-intercept (b)
Since one of the points provided is the y-intercept itself, \((0, 3)\), we can directly use it to find the intercept:When \(x = 0\), \(y = 3\). Hence, \(b = 3\).
3Step 3: Write the equation in slope-intercept form
Using the slope \((m = -1)\) and y-intercept \((b = 3)\), write the equation of the line in slope-intercept form:\[ y = mx + b \]Substitute \(m\) and \(b\) to get:\[ y = -x + 3 \]
4Step 4: Convert the equation to standard form
The standard form of a line is \(Ax + By = C\), where \(A, B,\) and \(C\) are integers and \(A\) should be non-negative. Start with the equation from Step 3:\[ y = -x + 3 \]To transform it, add \(x\) to both sides:\[ x + y = 3 \]

Key Concepts

Slope-Intercept FormStandard FormY-Intercept
Slope-Intercept Form
The slope-intercept form of a linear equation is a direct way to express the equation of a line. It's written as \( y = mx + b \). In this formula:
  • \( m \) represents the slope of the line.
  • \( b \) is the y-intercept, which is the point where the line crosses the y-axis.
This form is especially helpful when you want to quickly graph the line or understand its overall direction.
For example, if the slope \( m \) is positive, the line rises as it moves from left to right. If \( m \) is negative, the line falls.
The number \( b \) shows exactly where the line hits the y-axis. In our exercise, we found that the slope was \( -1 \) and the y-intercept \( b \) was \( 3 \). This gave us the slope-intercept form: \( y = -x + 3 \).
Simply put, using the slope-intercept form makes understanding the relationship between \( x \) and \( y \) immediate and visible.
Standard Form
The standard form of a linear equation is expressed as \( Ax + By = C \), where \( A, B, \) and \( C \) are constants. A key characteristic of the standard form is that \( A \) should be a non-negative integer, and all constants are usually written as integers.
  • This form is prevalent because it can easily describe both vertical and horizontal lines.
  • It's useful for solving systems of equations because it aligns well with matrix operations.
If you're given a slope-intercept equation like \( y = -x + 3 \), converting it to standard form involves rearranging the terms:
Add \( x \) to both sides to achieve \( x + y = 3 \).
Now, \( A = 1, B = 1, \) and \( C = 3 \) are the integers representing the equation in its standard form.
This transformation is simple but requires attention to ensure all coefficients are integers and \( A \) is non-negative.
Y-Intercept
The y-intercept is a vital component in a linear equation. It is the point where the line crosses the y-axis, noted as \( (0, b) \).
  • This means the x-coordinate is always \( 0 \) at the y-intercept.
  • Knowing the y-intercept allows you to quickly place a starting point on a graph.
From this position, you can use the slope to determine the line's direction.
In our worked problem, the point \( (0, 3) \) was given as one of the line's points, indicating it directly as the y-intercept with \( b = 3 \).
This information simplifies finding the equation because it directly plugs into the slope-intercept form, \( y = mx + b \).
Having the y-intercept in hand means you have a solid anchor for sketching or analyzing the line, making it an essential piece of information in linear equations.