Equation of a Line with Given Intercepts

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 76 views

Introduction

In mathematics, the equation of a line can be represented in various forms, including the slope-intercept form, point-slope form, and intercept form. The intercept form of a line is particularly useful when the x-intercept and y-intercept are given. In this article, we will explore how to write the equation of a line with a given x-intercept and y-intercept.

Understanding Intercepts

The x-intercept of a line is the point where the line intersects the x-axis, and the y-intercept is the point where the line intersects the y-axis. In other words, the x-intercept is the value of x when y is equal to zero, and the y-intercept is the value of y when x is equal to zero.

Given Intercepts

We are given that the x-intercept is -4 and the y-intercept is 2. This means that the line passes through the points (-4, 0) and (0, 2).

Equation of a Line with Given Intercepts

The equation of a line with a given x-intercept and y-intercept can be written in the form:

y = mx + b

where m is the slope of the line and b is the y-intercept.

However, since we are given the x-intercept and y-intercept, we can use the intercept form of the equation of a line, which is:

y = (y-intercept) / (x-intercept) * x

Substituting the given values, we get:

y = 2 / (-4) * x

Simplifying the equation, we get:

y = -1/2 * x

Equation in Standard Form

The standard form of the equation of a line is:

Ax + By = C

where A, B, and C are constants.

To convert the equation y = -1/2 * x to standard form, we can multiply both sides of the equation by 2 to eliminate the fraction:

2y = -x

Multiplying both sides of the equation by -1, we get:

x + 2y = 0

Equation in Slope-Intercept Form

The slope-intercept form of the equation of a line is:

y = mx + b

where m is the slope of the line and b is the y-intercept.

We can rewrite the equation x + 2y = 0 in slope-intercept form by solving for y:

2y = -x

y = -1/2 * x

Equation in Point-Slope Form

The point-slope form of the equation of a line is:

y - y1 = m(x - x1)

where (x1, y1) is a point on the line and m is the slope of the line.

We can rewrite the equation x + 2y = 0 in point-slope form by using the point (0, 2):

y - 2 = -1/2 * (x - 0)

Simplifying the equation, we get:

y - 2 = -1/2 * x

Conclusion

In this article, we have explored how to write the equation of a line with a given x-intercept and y-intercept. We have used the intercept form, standard form, slope-intercept form, and point-slope form to represent the equation of the line. The equation of the line is x + 2y = 0, which can be rewritten in various forms to suit different applications.

References

[1] "Equation of a Line" by Math Open Reference
[2] "Intercept Form of a Line" by Purplemath
[3] "Standard Form of a Line" by Mathway
[4] "Slope-Intercept Form of a Line" by Khan Academy
[5] "Point-Slope Form of a Line" by IXL
Equation of a Line with Given Intercepts: Q&A =====================================================

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored how to write the equation of a line with a given x-intercept and y-intercept. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions related to the equation of a line with given intercepts.

Q: What is the equation of a line with an x-intercept of -3 and a y-intercept of 4?

A: To find the equation of the line, we can use the intercept form of the equation of a line:

y = (y-intercept) / (x-intercept) * x

Substituting the given values, we get:

y = 4 / (-3) * x

Simplifying the equation, we get:

y = -4/3 * x

**Q: How do I convert the equation y = -4/3 * x to standard form?**

A: To convert the equation to standard form, we can multiply both sides of the equation by 3 to eliminate the fraction:

3y = -4x

Multiplying both sides of the equation by -1, we get:

4x + 3y = 0

Q: What is the equation of a line with a y-intercept of 2 and an x-intercept of -2?

A: To find the equation of the line, we can use the intercept form of the equation of a line:

y = (y-intercept) / (x-intercept) * x

Substituting the given values, we get:

y = 2 / (-2) * x

Simplifying the equation, we get:

y = -1 * x

**Q: How do I convert the equation y = -1 * x to slope-intercept form?**

A: The equation y = -1 * x is already in slope-intercept form, where the slope is -1 and the y-intercept is 0.

Q: What is the equation of a line with an x-intercept of 2 and a y-intercept of -3?

A: To find the equation of the line, we can use the intercept form of the equation of a line:

y = (y-intercept) / (x-intercept) * x

Substituting the given values, we get:

y = -3 / (2) * x

Simplifying the equation, we get:

y = -3/2 * x

**Q: How do I convert the equation y = -3/2 * x to point-slope form?**

A: To convert the equation to point-slope form, we can use the point (0, -3):

y - (-3) = -3/2 * (x - 0)

Simplifying the equation, we get:

y + 3 = -3/2 * x

Q: What is the equation of a line with a y-intercept of 0 and an x-intercept of 4?

A: To find the equation of the line, we can use the intercept form of the equation of a line:

y = (y-intercept) / (x-intercept) * x

Substituting the given values, we get:

y = 0 / (4) * x

Simplifying the equation, we get:

y = 0

Q: How do I convert the equation y = 0 to standard form?

A: The equation y = 0 is already in standard form, where A = 0, B = 0, and C = 0.

Conclusion

In this article, we have answered some frequently asked questions related to the equation of a line with given intercepts. We have used the intercept form, standard form, slope-intercept form, and point-slope form to represent the equation of the line.