Use the given conditions to write an equation for the line in point-slope form.
-Passing through $( 1 , - 5 )$ with $x$-intercept $= - 1$
A) $y - 5 = - \frac { 5 } { 2 } ( x + 1 )$ or $y = - \frac { 5 } { 2 } ( x + 1 )$
B) $y + 5 = - \frac { 5 } { 2 } ( x - 1 )$ or $y = - \frac { 5 } { 2 } ( x + 1 )$
C) $y + 5 = - \frac { 5 } { 2 } ( x - 1 )$ or $y = - \frac { 5 } { 2 } ( x - 1 )$
D) $y - 1 = - \frac { 5 } { 2 } x$ or $y - 5 = - \frac { 5 } { 2 } ( x + 1 )$

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The slope ($m$) of the line can be found using the point (1, -5) and the x-intercept (-1, 0). The slope formula $m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1}$ gives $m = \frac{0 - (-5)}{-1 - 1} = \frac{5}{-2} = -\frac{5}{2}$. Using the point-slope form $y - y_1 = m(x - x_1)$ with the point (1, -5), we get $y + 5 = -\frac{5}{2}(x - 1)$, which matches choice B.

Use the Given Conditions to Write an Equation for the Line