Finite Math Examples

$(2, 0)$ , $(8, - 3)$

Step 1

Use $y = m x + b$ to calculate the equation of the line, where $m$ represents the slope and $b$ represents the y-intercept.

To calculate the equation of the line, use the $y = m x + b$ format.

Step 2

Slope is equal to the change in $y$ over the change in $x$ , or rise over run.

$m = \frac{(change in y)}{(change in x)}$

Step 3

The change in $x$ is equal to the difference in x-coordinates (also called run), and the change in $y$ is equal to the difference in y-coordinates (also called rise).

$m = \frac{y_{2} - y_{1}}{x_{2} - x_{1}}$

Step 4

Substitute in the values of $x$ and $y$ into the equation to find the slope.

$m = \frac{- 3 - (0)}{8 - (2)}$

Step 5

Finding the slope $m$ .

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Step 5.1

Simplify the numerator.

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Step 5.1.1

Multiply $- 1$ by $0$ .

$m = \frac{- 3 + 0}{8 - (2)}$

Step 5.1.2

Add $- 3$ and $0$ .

$m = \frac{- 3}{8 - (2)}$

Step 5.2

Simplify the denominator.

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Step 5.2.1

Multiply $- 1$ by $2$ .

$m = \frac{- 3}{8 - 2}$

Step 5.2.2

Subtract $2$ from $8$ .

$m = \frac{- 3}{6}$

Step 5.3

Reduce the expression by cancelling the common factors.

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Step 5.3.1

Cancel the common factor of $- 3$ and $6$ .

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Step 5.3.1.1

Factor $3$ out of $- 3$ .

$m = \frac{3 (- 1)}{6}$

Step 5.3.1.2

Cancel the common factors.

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Step 5.3.1.2.1

Factor $3$ out of $6$ .

$m = \frac{3 \cdot - 1}{3 \cdot 2}$

Step 5.3.1.2.2

Cancel the common factor.

$m = \frac{3 \cdot - 1}{3 \cdot 2}$

Step 5.3.1.2.3

Rewrite the expression.

$m = \frac{- 1}{2}$

Step 5.3.2

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

$m = - \frac{1}{2}$

Step 6

Find the value of $b$ using the formula for the equation of a line.

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Step 6.1

Use the formula for the equation of a line to find $b$ .

$y = m x + b$

Step 6.2

Substitute the value of $m$ into the equation.

$y = (- \frac{1}{2}) \cdot x + b$

Step 6.3

Substitute the value of $x$ into the equation.

$y = (- \frac{1}{2}) \cdot (2) + b$

Step 6.4

Substitute the value of $y$ into the equation.

$0 = (- \frac{1}{2}) \cdot (2) + b$

Step 6.5

Find the value of $b$ .

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Step 6.5.1

Rewrite the equation as $- \frac{1}{2} \cdot 2 + b = 0$ .

$- \frac{1}{2} \cdot 2 + b = 0$

Step 6.5.2

Cancel the common factor of $2$ .

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Step 6.5.2.1

Move the leading negative in $- \frac{1}{2}$ into the numerator.

$\frac{- 1}{2} \cdot 2 + b = 0$

Step 6.5.2.2

Cancel the common factor.

$\frac{- 1}{2} \cdot 2 + b = 0$

Step 6.5.2.3

Rewrite the expression.

$- 1 + b = 0$

Step 6.5.3

Add $1$ to both sides of the equation.

$b = 1$

Step 7

Now that the values of $m$ (slope) and $b$ (y-intercept) are known, substitute them into $y = m x + b$ to find the equation of the line.

$y = - \frac{1}{2} x + 1$

Step 8