1. Finding the Equation of a Line Between Two Points
Please view this tutorial and answer the follow-up questions on loose leaf to turn in to your teacher.

2. Linear Equations
When you have two points, you can find a line that goes between those two points.
First, you need to find the slope between those two points using the slope formula.
Next, you need to find the y-intercept by plugging in values for x, y, and the slope.
Lastly, you need to plug the slope and y-intercept back into the general equation for a line.

3. Step 1: Find the slope ( -1, -5 ) and ( 3, 3 )
Let’s look at an example…
( -1, -5 ) and ( 3, 3 ) X1 Y1 X2 Y2
First, label the points so you can plug them into the slope formula more easily.
Next, plug these values into your slope formula and solve for the slope.

4. Step 2: Find the y-intercept
( -1, -5 ) and ( 3, 3 )
Now that we know the slope is 2, we can find the y-intercept by choosing one point from above and plugging these values into the general equation for a line.
Let’s choose the first point.
Plug in -5 for y
and -1 for x.

5. Step 2: Find the y-intercept
( -1, -5 ) and ( 3, 3 )
Now that we know the slope is 2, we can find the y-intercept by choosing one point from above and plugging these values into the general equation for a line.
You also know that the slope is 2, so you can plug in 2 for b.

6. Step 2: Find the y-intercept
( -1, -5 ) and ( 3, 3 )
You can solve algebraically for a (the y-intercept) or use tables in the calculator.

7. Step 3: Put it all together
( -1, -5 ) and ( 3, 3 )
Once you have the slope and y-intercept, you can plug these values back into the general equation for a line to find the specific line that goes through your two points.
b is the slope.
a is the y-intercept.
This is your final equation!

8. Let’s Try Another Problem
( -3, -6 ) and ( 6, 0 )
Step 1: Find the slope.
Complete this on your own and then click to see if you got the right answer.

9. Let’s Try Another Problem
( -3, -6 ) and ( 6, 0 )
Step 2: Find the y-intercept.
Complete this on your own and then click to see if you got the right answer.

10. Let’s Try Another Problem
( -3, -6 ) and ( 6, 0 )
Step 3: Put it all together.
Complete this on your own and then click to see if you got the right answer.

11. Follow-Up Questions Answer the following questions on loose leaf
and hand them in to your teacher.

12. Find the equations of the lines between the following points.
( -2, 7 ) and ( 2, 5 )
( 0, -2 ) and ( 7, 5 )
( 8, 3 ) and ( -4, 6 )
( -3, -8 ) and ( 3, -4 )
( -6, -5 ) and ( 12, 10 )