Section 1.

4
Linear Functions and Slope

The Slope of a Line
change in y 5 1 6 6
change in x 2 3 5 5
m or

= = =

Find the slope of the line that passes
through (-2,5) and (3,-1)
Example
Find the slope of the line passing through the
pair of points. (5,-2) and (-1,7)
The Point-Slope Form
of the Equation of a Line
1 1
Write the point-slope form of the equation of the
line with slope of 3 that passes through (-1,2).
Substitute into the point-slope form; y-y ( )
2 3( 1)
2 3( 1)
m x x
y x
y x
=
=
= +
Solving in both forms
A.Write the equation in point slope form of the line
with slope 4 that passes through the point (4,-3).
B.Then solve the equation for y
y
1
x
1
y-(-3) = 4(x-4) Substituting the values into the euation
y+3 = 4(x-4)
This is Point Slope Form. Apply the
distributive property for the
parentheses. This will give us the
slope intercept form. (The equation
is solved for y.)
-3 -3
y= 4(x-4)-3
y= 4x-16-3
y-y
1
= m(x-x
1
)
(slope intercept form)
Y=4x-19
Example
Write the point slope form of the equation of the
line with slope of -4 that passes through (2,5).
Then solve for y.
2 1
2 1
Write the point-slope form of the equation of the
line that passes through (-1,2) and (-4,5). Then
solve for y.
5 2 3
First: Find the slope. 1
4 1 3
Second: Substitue into the point-slope fo
y y
x x

= = =

1 1
rm.
y-y ( )
5 1( 4)
Third: Solve for y.
5 1( 4)
5 1 4
y=-1x+1
m x x
y x
y x
y x
=
=
= +
=
Example
Write the point slope form of the equation of the
line that passes through (2,5) and (-1,0). Then
solve for y.
The Slope-Intercept Form
of the Equation of a Line
Point Slope Form
For a nonvertical line
with slope m that passes
through (x
1
,y
1
) the
equation is
y-y
1
= m(x-x
1
)

Example: slope = -3
point on the line(-1,-2)
Y-(-2)= -3(x-(-1))
Y+2= -3(x+1)

Slope Intercept Form
For a nonvertical line
with slope m and y-
intercept b the equation
is y=mx+b

Example: slope =2
y-intercept of 6
Y=2x +6
Two forms for Equations of Lines
Graph the linear equation y= 2/3x+4
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
x
y
First: Plot the y-intercept of 4
Rise by 2 units
Run ( go to the right) by 3 units.
Plot the second point (3, 6)
Connect the two points with a straight edge or
ruler.
(0,4)
(3,6)
Example
Graph the linear equation y= -3x+5
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
x
y
Example
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
x
y
1
Graph the linear equation y= 3
2
x
Equations of Horizontal
and Vertical Lines
Example
Graph x=4.
Graph y=-2
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
x
y
The General Form
of the Equation of a Line
Find the slope and the y intercept of the line.
4 5 20 0
4 5 20
-5y=-4x-20
-5y 4 20

-5 5 5
4
y= 4
5
x y
x y
x
x
+ =
=

=

+
Y intercept
slope
Example
Find the slope and the y intercept of the line
whose equation is 2x+5y-10=0.
Using Intercepts to Graph
Ax + By + C = 0
Find x and y intercepts to graph a line
6x-2y=12
X intercept so let y=0

Y intercept so let x=0


0
0
6x-2(0)=12
6x=12
X=2
(2,0)
Y=-6
(0,-6)
-2y=12
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
x
y
6(0)-2y=12
X intercept - Let y=0
4x-3 0 6 0
4x-6=0
4x=6
6 3
x=
4 2
3
, 0
2
=
=
| |
|
\ .
( )
Y-intercept - Let x=0
4 0-3y-6=0
-3y-6=0
-3y=6
6
y= 2
-3
0, 2

Example
Find the x and y intercepts then graph
using those points.
X-4y-8=0
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
x
y
Summary
Applications
The graph gives the median age of the
US population in the indicated year. The
data is displayed as a scatterplot with two
points on the line indicated. Find the
equation of the line, in order to
make predictions of the US
population in the future.

Now we will use the equation to predict
the median age of the US population in 2010.
That means we will substitute in 40 for the x.
The reason we use 40 is the initial date was 1970.
If we add 40 to 1970 we will get 2010.
y=0.265x+27.35
y=0.265(40)+27.35
y=37.95
This means that the median age of the US population
will be 37.95 in 2010.
Example
Diameter 8 10 12 16
Price 6.40 8.00 9.60 12.80
The local pizza shop has a special sale on pizzas. Write
the slope-intercept equation of the line that describes the
price as a function of the diameter of the pizza.
If this company decides to make an 18 inch pizza, how
much should they charge?
Graphing Calculator-Linear Regression
D $
8 6.40
10 8.00
12 9.60
16 12.8
Take the data from the previous pizza problem.
Put the data into List1 & List2 in the graphing
calculator.
To do that Press STAT,
then 1 for Edit. Type in
the numbers.
Press STAT, move the
cursor to the right to CALC,
then press 4 for LinReg.
The next screen gives you the values of
a and b for the equation.
The equation is y=.8x.
More on the
next slide.
To see the scatterplot of the data, we need to
change the Window. Press WINDOW, and
type in what you see at left.
Press the GRAPH key. You will see the scatterplot
at left. The equation y=.8x will go through these
points. Press Y= and type in the equation. Press
GRAPH to see the line and scatterplot.
Graphing Calculator-Linear Regression continued
Press 2nd Y= to get STAT PLOT. First make
certain that all plots are off by pressing 4. Then
return to STAT PLOT and press Plot1. On the
word ON press ENTER.
Cursor down and press the appropriate
1
2
keys so
you get what you see in the picture at left. L is
obtained by pressing 2nd then 1. L - 2nd then 2.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Find the equation of the line in slope-
intercept form for a line that passes
through (0,-4) and has a slope of -2.
2 4
4 2
2 4
2 4
y x
y x
y x
y x
=
+ =
= +
=
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Find the equation of the line in slope-
intercept form of the line that passes
through (-3,-2) and (0,-2).
x 3
2
0
2 3
y
y
y x
=
=
=
=
(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)
What is the slope of the line 3x - 7y 4 = 0.
7
3
7
4
4
7
3
7