Example

Finding the Equation of a Line with Slope 13-\frac{1}{3} Through (6,4)(6, -4)

To find the equation of a line with slope m=13m = -\frac{1}{3} that passes through the point (6,4)(6, -4), apply the four-step procedure and write the result in slope-intercept form. Step 1 — Identify the slope: m=13m = -\frac{1}{3}. Step 2 — Identify the point: (x1,y1)=(6,4)(x_1, y_1) = (6, -4). Step 3 — Substitute into the point-slope form yy1=m(xx1)y - y_1 = m(x - x_1): y(4)=13(x6)y - (-4) = -\frac{1}{3}(x - 6) Simplify the left side and distribute 13-\frac{1}{3} on the right: y+4=13x+2y + 4 = -\frac{1}{3}x + 2 Step 4 — Write in slope-intercept form by subtracting 44 from both sides: y=13x2y = -\frac{1}{3}x - 2 The equation of the line is y=13x2y = -\frac{1}{3}x - 2. This example illustrates how subtracting a negative number (y(4)y - (-4)) becomes addition (y+4y + 4), and how distributing a negative fraction across a subtraction (13(6)=2-\frac{1}{3} \cdot (-6) = 2) produces a positive result.

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Updated 2026-05-03

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