Answer to Question #293805 in Algebra for Michael

Question

Find the equation of the straight line with gradient -1/2 that passes through the point (5,3)

Answer 1

The formula for equation of a line given the Slope $m$ and point $(x_1,y_1)$ is;

$\displaystyle m=\frac{y-y_1}{x-x_1}$

Here, $\displaystyle m=-\frac{1}{2},\text{ and}(x_1,y_1)=(5,3).$ Thus we have the equation of the line as;

$\displaystyle -\frac{1}{2}=\frac{y-3}{x-5}\Rightarrow y=-\frac{x}{2}+\frac{11}{2}$