The Equation of the Second Cut

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 142 views

Richard is working on a project that requires him to cut a piece of wood. The first cut is represented by the equation $y = \frac{1}{2}x + 2$ . This equation is in the slope-intercept form, where the slope is $\frac{1}{2}$ and the y-intercept is $2$ . The second cut needs to be parallel to the first cut and will pass through the point $(0, -7)$ . In this article, we will identify the equation that represents the second cut.

What are Parallel Lines?

Parallel lines are lines that lie in the same plane and never intersect, no matter how far they are extended. In other words, parallel lines have the same slope but different y-intercepts. Since the second cut needs to be parallel to the first cut, it must have the same slope as the first cut, which is $\frac{1}{2}$ .

The Equation of a Line

The equation of a line in slope-intercept form is given by $y = mx + b$ , where $m$ is the slope and $b$ is the y-intercept. Since the second cut needs to have the same slope as the first cut, we can write the equation of the second cut as $y = \frac{1}{2}x + b$ . We need to find the value of $b$ .

Finding the Value of b

The second cut passes through the point $(0, -7)$ . We can substitute this point into the equation of the second cut to find the value of $b$ . Plugging in the values, we get:

-7 = \frac{1}{2}(0) + b

Simplifying the equation, we get:

-7 = b

So, the value of $b$ is $-7$ .

The Equation of the Second Cut

Now that we have found the value of $b$ , we can write the equation of the second cut as:

y = \frac{1}{2}x - 7

This is the equation that represents the second cut.

Conclusion

In this article, we identified the equation that represents the second cut. The second cut needs to be parallel to the first cut and will pass through the point $(0, -7)$ . We used the concept of parallel lines and the equation of a line in slope-intercept form to find the equation of the second cut. The equation of the second cut is $y = \frac{1}{2}x - 7$ .

Key Takeaways

Parallel lines have the same slope but different y-intercepts.
The equation of a line in slope-intercept form is given by $y = mx + b$ , where $m$ is the slope and $b$ is the y-intercept.
To find the equation of a line that passes through a given point, we can substitute the point into the equation and solve for the unknown variable.

Real-World Applications

The concept of parallel lines and the equation of a line in slope-intercept form has many real-world applications. For example, in architecture, parallel lines are used to design buildings and bridges. In engineering, parallel lines are used to design mechanical systems and electrical circuits. In computer science, parallel lines are used to design algorithms and data structures.

Final Thoughts

$In conclusion, the equation that represents the second cut is $y = \frac{1}{2}x - 7$. This equation is a result of using the concept of parallel lines and the equation of a line in slope-intercept form. The concept of parallel lines and the equation of a line in slope-intercept form has many real-world applications and is an important topic in mathematics.<br/> **Q&A: Understanding Parallel Lines and the Equation of a Line**$

In our previous article, we discussed the concept of parallel lines and the equation of a line in slope-intercept form. We also identified the equation that represents the second cut. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions related to parallel lines and the equation of a line.

Q: What are parallel lines?

A: Parallel lines are lines that lie in the same plane and never intersect, no matter how far they are extended. In other words, parallel lines have the same slope but different y-intercepts.

Q: How do you determine if two lines are parallel?

A: To determine if two lines are parallel, you can compare their slopes. If the slopes are equal, then the lines are parallel.

Q: What is the equation of a line in slope-intercept form?

A: The equation of a line in slope-intercept form is given by $y = mx + b$ , where $m$ is the slope and $b$ is the y-intercept.

Q: How do you find the equation of a line that passes through a given point?

A: To find the equation of a line that passes through a given point, you can substitute the point into the equation and solve for the unknown variable.

Q: What is the difference between a slope and a y-intercept?

A: The slope of a line is a measure of how steep the line is, while the y-intercept is the point where the line intersects the y-axis.

Q: Can a line have a slope of zero?

A: Yes, a line can have a slope of zero. This means that the line is horizontal and does not intersect the y-axis.

Q: Can a line have a y-intercept of zero?

A: Yes, a line can have a y-intercept of zero. This means that the line does not intersect the y-axis.

Q: How do you graph a line using its equation?

A: To graph a line using its equation, you can use the slope-intercept form of the equation. The slope represents the steepness of the line, while the y-intercept represents the point where the line intersects the y-axis.

Q: What are some real-world applications of parallel lines and the equation of a line?

A: Parallel lines and the equation of a line have many real-world applications. For example, in architecture, parallel lines are used to design buildings and bridges. In engineering, parallel lines are used to design mechanical systems and electrical circuits. In computer science, parallel lines are used to design algorithms and data structures.

Q: How do you determine if a line is parallel to the x-axis or the y-axis?

A: To determine if a line is parallel to the x-axis or the y-axis, you can look at the slope of the line. If the slope is zero, then the line is parallel to the y-axis. If the slope is undefined, then the line is parallel to the x-axis.

Q: Can a line have a slope of infinity?

A: Yes, a line can have a slope of infinity. This means that the line is vertical and intersects the x-axis at a single point.

Q: How do you find the equation of a line that is perpendicular to another line?

A: To find the equation of a line that is perpendicular to another line, you can use the fact that the slopes of perpendicular lines are negative reciprocals of each other.

Conclusion

In this article, we answered some frequently asked questions related to parallel lines and the equation of a line. We hope that this article has provided you with a better understanding of these concepts and their real-world applications.