Example

Finding the Equation of a Horizontal Line Through (−2,−6)(-2, -6) Using Point-Slope Form

To find the equation of a horizontal line containing the point (−2,−6)(-2, -6), substitute its given point and zero slope into the point-slope form.

Step 1 — Identify the slope: Every horizontal line has a slope of 00, so m=0m = 0.

Step 2 — Identify the point: The given point is (x1,y1)=(−2,−6)(x_1, y_1) = (-2, -6).

Step 3 — Substitute into the point-slope form y−y1=m(x−x1)y - y_1 = m(x - x_1): y−(−6)=0(x−(−2))y - (-6) = 0(x - (-2))

Step 4 — Simplify: Distributing zero eliminates the entire right side of the equation: y+6=0y + 6 = 0 y=−6y = -6

Step 5 — Write in slope-intercept form: Although y=−6y = -6 is already in the y=by = b format characteristic of a horizontal line, it could also be explicitly written as y=0x−6y = 0x - 6.

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Updated 2026-06-18

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