Finding the Equation of a Line Given Two Points
Most people when asked, What is the equation of a line?, will answer, y = mx + b. This is the
equation of a line in what is called slope-intercept form where m is the slope and b is the y-
intercept. So, how do you find the equation of a line? There are several different ways that you can find
the equation of a line. I find the equation of a line everytime by following the same three steps:
Step 1: Find the slope of the line.
Step 2: Use the slope to find the y-intercept.
Step 3: Use steps 1 and 2 to write the answer.
I will explain these steps by looking a several examples. Please understand that there are often several
different ways to complete each math problem, but I have found through the years that students are most
successful when the do problems the same way each and every time they attempt the problem. If you
know a different way to find the answer that is great, but I am going to show how to do the problem one
way and use the same technique everytime I see this problem.
Example 1: Find the equation of the line passing through the points (1, 2) and (2, 7).
Step 1: Find the slope of the line.
To find the slope of the line passing through these two points we need to use the slope
formula:
( )
( )
So the slope of the slope of the line passing through these two points is 3.
Step 2: Use the slope to find the y-intercept.
Now that we know the slope of the line is 3 we can plug the slope into the equation and
we get:
y = 3x + b
Next choose one of the two point to plug in for the values of x and y. It does not matter
which one of the two points you choose because you should get the same answer in either
case. I generally just choose the first point listed so I dont have to worry about which
one I should choose.
(1, 2) 2 = 3(1) + b Multiply to simplify the problem.
2 = 3 + b Solve for b and you will have the y-intercept.
b=1
Finding the Equation of a Line Given Two Points Notes Page 1 of 4
Step 3: Write the answer.
Using the slope of 3 and the y-intercept of 1, the answer is:
y = 3x + 1
Example 2: Find the equation of the line passing through the points (2, 5) and (4, 3).
Step 1: Find the slope of the line.
To find the slope of the line passing through these two points we need to use the slope
formula:
( )
So the slope of the slope of the line passing through these two points is 4/3.
Step 2: Use the slope to find the y-intercept.
Now that we know the slope of the line is 4/3 we can plug the slope into the equation
and we get:
Next choose one of the two point to plug in for the values of x and y. It does not matter
which one of the two points you choose, you should get the same answer in either case.
( ) ( )( ) Multiply to simplify the problem.
At this point if you are not good with
fractions, multiply the entire problem by 3
( ) (the common denominator) and the fractions
will go away.
15 = 8 + 3b Solve for b and you will have the y-intercept.
Step 3: Write the answer.
Using the slope of 4/3 and the y-intercept of 7/3, the answer is:
Finding the Equation of a Line Given Two Points Notes Page 2 of 4
Example 3: Find the equation of the line passing through the points (5, 2) and (1, 5).
Step 1: Find the slope of the line.
To find the slope of the line passing through these two points we need to use the slope
formula:
( )
( )
So the slope of the slope of the line passing through these two points is 7/6.
Step 2: Use the slope to find the y-intercept.
Now that we know the slope of the line is 7/6 we can plug the slope into the equation and
we get:
Next choose one of the two point to plug in for the values of x and y. It does not matter
which one of the two points you choose, you should get the same answer in either case.
( ) ( )( ) Multiply to simplify the problem.
Multiply the entire problem by 6 (the
( ) common denominator) and the fractions
will go away.
Solve for b and you will have the y-
12 = 35 + 6b
intercept.
Step 3: Write the answer.
Using the slope of 7/6 and the y-intercept of 23/6, the answer is:
Finding the Equation of a Line Given Two Points Notes Page 3 of 4
Example 4: Find the equation of the line passing through the points (4, 7) and (3, 2).
Step 1: Find the slope of the line.
To find the slope of the line passing through these two points we need to use the slope
formula:
( )
So the slope of the slope of the line passing through these two points is 5/7.
Step 2: Use the slope to find the y-intercept.
Now that we know the slope of the line is 5/7 we can plug the slope into the equation
and we get:
Next choose one of the two point to plug in for the values of x and y. It does not matter
which one of the two points you choose, you should get the same answer in either case.
( ) ( )( ) Multiply to simplify the problem.
Multiply the entire problem by 7 (the
( ) common denominator) and the fractions
will go away.
Solve for b and you will have the y-
49 = 20 + 7b
intercept.
Step 3: Write the answer.
Using the slope of 5/7and the y-intercept of 29/7, the answer is:
Finding the Equation of a Line Given Two Points Notes Page 4 of 4
