ANALYZING

LINEAR EQUATIONS

MATH PROJECT
Welcome to the MATH PROJECT.

This session is designed to provide

support in the study of Linear (line)
Equations.

To obtain maximum benefit take

notes and work each examples.
Lesson 1 Slope
Lesson 2 Slope and Direct Variation
Lesson 3 Slope-Intercept Form
Lesson 4 Writing Equations in Slope-Intercept Form
Lesson 5 Writing Equations in Point-Slope Form
Lesson 6 Geometry: Parallel and Perpendicular Lines
Lesson 7 Statistics: Scatter Plots and Lines of Fit
LESSON 1

SLOPE
Example 1 Positive Slope
Example 2 Negative Slope
Example 3 Zero Slope
Example 4 Undefined Slope
Example 5 Find Coordinates Given Slope
Example 6 Find a Rate of Change
Find the slope of the line that passes through
(–3, 2) and (5, 5).

Let and

Substitute.
 Simplify.

Answer: The slope is

Find the slope of the line that passes through
(4, 5) and (7, 6).

Answer:
Find the slope of the line that passes through
(–3, –4) and (–2, –8).

Let and

Substitute.
 Simplify.

Answer: The slope is –4.

Find the slope of the line that passes through
(–3, –5) and (–2, –7).

Answer: –2
Find the slope of the line that passes through
(–3, 4) and (4, 4).

Let and

Substitute.
 Simplify.

Answer: The slope is 0.

Find the slope of the line that passes through
(–3, –1) and (5, –1).

Answer: 0
Find the slope of the line that passes through
(–2, –4) and (–2, 3).
Let and

Answer: Since division by zero is undefined,

the slope is undefined.
Find the slope of the line that passes through
(5, –1) and (5, –3).

Answer: undefined
Find the value of r so that the line through (6, 3) and

(r, 2) has a slope of

Slope formula

Substitute.

Subtract.
 Find the cross products.

Simplify.

Add 6 to each side.

Answer: Simplify.
Find the value of p so that the line through (p, 4) and

(3, –1) has a slope of

Answer: –5
Travel The graph to the right
shows the number of U.S.
passports issued in 1991, 1995,
and 1999.
Find the rates of change for
1991-1995 and 1995-1999.

Use the formula for slope.

millions of passports
years
1991-1995:

Substitute.

Simplify.

Answer: The number of passports issued increased

by 1.9 million in a 4-year period for a rate of change of 475,000
per year.
1995-1999:

Substitute.

Simplify.

Answer: Over this 4-year period, the number of U.S. passports

issued increased by 1.4 million for a rate of change of 350,000
per year.
Explain the meaning of slope in each case.

Answer: For 1991-1995, on average, 475,000 more passports

were issued each year than the last. For 1995-1999, on average,
350,000 more passports were issued each year than the last.
How are the different
rates of change shown
on the graph?

Answer: There is a greater rate

of change from 1991-1995
than from 1995-1999.
Therefore, the section of the
graph for 1991-1995 has a
steeper slope.
Airlines The graph shows the
number of airplane departures
in the United States in recent
years.
a. Find the rates of change
for 1990-1995 and
1995-2000.
Answer: 240,000 per year;
180,000 per year
b. Explain the meaning of
the slope in each case.
Answer: For 1990-1995, the
number of airplane departures
increased by about 240,000 flights
each year. For 1995-2000, the
number of airplane departures
increased by about 180,000 flights
each year.
c. How are the different
rates of change shown
on the graph?
Answer: There is a greater
vertical change for 1990-1995 than
for 1995-2000. Therefore, the
section of the graph for 1990-1995
has a steeper slope.
 LESSON 2

SLOPE and DIRECT

VARIATION
Example 1 Slope and Constant of Variation
Example 2 Direct Variation with k > 0
Example 3 Direct Variation with k < 0
Example 4 Write and Solve a Direct Variation Equation
Example 5 Direct Variation Equation
Name the constant of
variation for the equation.
Then find the slope of the
line that passes through the
pair of points.

Slope formula

Answer: The constant of

variation is 2.
The slope is 2.
Simplify.
Name the constant of
variation for the equation.
Then find the slope of the
line that passes through the
pair of points.

Slope formula

Answer: The constant

of variation is –4.
The slope is –4.
Simplify.
Name the constant of variation for the equation.
Then find the slope of the line that passes through
the pair of points.

a. Answer: constant of
variation: 4;
slope: 4
Name the constant of variation for the equation.
Then find the slope of the line that passes through
the pair of points.

b. Answer: constant of
variation: –3;
slope: –3
Step 1 Write the slope as
a ratio.

Step 2 Graph (0, 0).

Step 3 From the point (0, 0), move up 1 unit and right
1 unit. Draw a dot.

Step 4 Draw a line containing the points.

Answer:
Step 1 Write the slope as
a ratio.

Step 2 Graph (0, 0).

Step 3 From the point (0, 0), move down 3 units and
right 2 units. Draw a dot.

Step 4 Draw a line containing the points.

Answer:
Suppose y varies directly as x, and when
Write a direct variation equation that relates x and y.

Find the value of k.

Direct variation formula

Replace y with 9 and x with –3.

Divide each side by –3.

 Simplify.

Answer: Therefore,
Use the direct variation equation to find x when

Direct variation equation

Replace y with 15.

Divide each side by –3.

Simplify.

Answer: Therefore, when

Suppose y varies directly as x, and when
a. Write a direct variation equation that relates x and y.

Answer:

b. Use the direct variation equation to find x when

Answer: –15
Travel The Ramirez family is driving cross-country
on vacation. They drive 330 miles in 5.5 hours.
Write a direct variation equation to find the distance driven
for any number of hours.
Words The distance traveled is 330 miles, and the time is
5.5 hours.
Variables
Distance equals rate times time.

Equation 330 mi r 5.5h

Solve for the rate.

Original equation

Divide each side by 5.5.

Simplify.

Answer: Therefore, the direct variation equation is

Graph the equation.
The graph of passes through the origin with a slope
of 60.

Answer:
Estimate how many hours it would take to drive
600 miles.
Original equation

Replace d with 600.

Divide each side by 60.

Simplify.

Answer: At this rate, it will take 10 hours to drive

600 miles.
Dustin ran a 26-mile marathon in 3.25 hours.
a. Write a direct variation equation to find the distance
ran for any number of hours.
Answer:

b. Graph the
equation.
Answer:
c. Estimate how many hours it would take to jog 16 miles.

Answer: 2 hours
 LESSON 3

SLOPE-INTERCEPT FORM
Example 1 Write an Equation Given Slope
and y-Intercept
Example 2 Write an Equation Given Two Points
Example 3 Graph an Equation in Slope-Intercept Form
Example 4 Graph an Equation in Standard Form
Example 5 Write an Equation in Slope-Intercept Form
Write an equation of the line whose slope is
and whose y-intercept is –6.

Slope-intercept form

Replace m with and b with –6.

Answer:
Write an equation of the line whose slope is 4
and whose y-intercept is 3.

Answer:
Write an equation of the line
shown in the graph.
Step 1 You know the coordinates of
two points on the line. Find
the slope. Let
 Simplify.

The slope is 2.

Step 2 The line crosses the y-axis at (0, –3).

So, the y-intercept is –3.
Step 3 Finally, write the equation.
Slope-intercept form
Replace m with 2 and b with –3.

Answer: The equation of the line is

Write an equation of the line
shown in the graph.

Answer:
Graph
Step 1 The y-intercept is –7.
y = 0.5x – 7
So graph (0, –7).
Step 2 The slope is 0.5
or

From (0, –7), move up 1 unit and right 2 units.

Draw a dot.

Step 3 Draw a line connecting the points.

Graph

Answer:
Graph
Step 1 Solve for y to find the slope-intercept form.

Original equation

Subtract 5x from each side.

Simplify.

Divide each side by 4.

 Divide each term in the
numerator by 4.

Answer:

Step 2 The y-intercept of

is 2.

So graph (0, 2).

Step 3 The slope is

From (0, 2), move

down 5 units and
right 4 units. 5x + 4y = 8
Draw a dot.

Step 4 Draw a line

connecting the points.
Graph

Answer:
Health The ideal maximum heart rate for a 25-year-old
who is exercising to burn fat is 117 beats per minute. For
every 5 years older than 25, that ideal rate drops 3 beats
per minute.
Write a linear equation to find the ideal maximum heart
rate for anyone over 25 who is exercising to burn fat.

Words The rate drops 3 beats per minute every

5 years, so the rate of change is beats
per minute each year. The ideal maximum
heart rate for a 25-year-old is 117 beats
per minute.
Variables Let R = the ideal heart rate.
Let a = years older than 25.

Equation
ideal rate
Ideal rate of years older for 25-
rate equals change times than 25 plus year-old.

R a 117

Answer:
Graph the equation.

The graph passes through (0, 117) with a slope of

Answer:
Find the ideal maximum heart rate for a person exercising
to burn fat who is 55 years old.

The age 55 is 30 years older than 25. So,

Ideal heart rate equation

Replace a with 30.

Simplify.

Answer: The ideal heart rate for a 55-year-old

person is 99 beats per minute.
The amount of money spent on Christmas gifts has increased
by an average of $150,000 ($0.15 million) per year since 1986.
Consumers spent $3 million in 1986.
a. Write a linear equation to find the average amount
spent for any year since 1986.
Answer: where D is the amount of money
spent in millions of dollars, and n is the number of
years since 1986
The amount of money spent on Christmas gifts has increased
by an average of $150,000 ($0.15 million) per year since 1986.
Consumers spent $3 million in 1986.
b. Graph the equation.

Answer:
The amount of money spent on Christmas gifts has increased
by an average of $150,000 ($0.15 million) per year since 1986.
Consumers spent $3 million in 1986.
c. Find the amount spent by consumers in 1999.

Answer: $4.95 million

 LESSON 4

WRITING EQUATIONS
In
POINT-INTERCEPT FORM
Example 1 Write an Equation Given Slope and
One Point
Example 2 Write an Equation Given Two Points
Example 3 Write an Equation to Solve a Problem
Example 4 Linear Extrapolation
Write an equation of a line that passes through (2, –3)

with slope

Step 1 The line has slope To find the y-intercept,

replace m with and (x, y) with (2, –3) in the

slope-intercept form. Then, solve for b.

Slope-intercept form

Replace m with ,
y with –3,
and x with 2.

Multiply.

Subtract 1 from each side.

Simplify.
Step 2 Write the slope-intercept form using

Slope-intercept form

Replace m with and b with –4.

Answer: The equation is

Check You can check your result by graphing
on a graphing calculator.

Use the CALC menu to verify

that it passes through (2, –3).
Write an equation of a line that passes through (1, 4)
and has a slope of –3.

Answer:
Multiple-Choice Test Item x y
The table of ordered pairs shows the
coordinates of two points on the graph –3 –4
of a function. Which equation describes –2 –8
the function?
A B
C D

Read the Test Item

The table represents the ordered pairs (–3, –4)
and (–2, –8).
Solve the Test Item
Step 1 Find the slope of the line containing the points.
Let and .

Slope formula

Simplify.
Step 2 You know the slope and two points. Choose one point
and find the y-intercept. In this case, we chose (–3, –4).

Slope-intercept form

Replace m with –4,

x with –3, and y with –4.
Multiply.

Subtract 12 from
each side.

Simplify.
Step 3 Write the slope-intercept form using

Slope-intercept form

Replace m with –4 and

b with –16.

Answer: The equation is The answer is D.

Multiple-Choice Test Item x y
The table of ordered pairs shows the
coordinates of two points on the graph –1 3
of a function. Which equation describes 2 6
the function?
A B
C D

Answer: B
Economy In 2000, the cost of many items increased because
of the increase in the cost of petroleum. In Chicago, a gallon
of self-serve regular gasoline cost $1.76 in May and $2.13 in
June. Write a linear equation to predict the cost of gasoline
in any month in 2000, using 1 to represent January.

Explore You know the cost of regular gasoline in May and

June.
Plan Let x represent the month and y represent the cost of
gasoline that month. Write an equation
of the line that passes through (5, 1.76) and
(6, 2.13).
Solve Find the slope.

Slope formula

Let
and .

Simplify.
Choose (5, 1.76) and find the y-intercept
of the line.
Slope-intercept
form
Replace m with
0.37, x with 5,
and y with 1.76.

Multiply.
Subtract 1.85
from each side.

Simplify.
 Write the slope-intercept form using
and

Slope-intercept form

Replace m with 0.37

and b with –0.09.

Answer: The equation is

Examine Check your result by substituting the coordinates of
the point not chosen, (6, 2.13), into the equation.

Original equation

Replace y with 2.13

and x with 6.

Multiply.

Simplify.
The average cost of a college textbook in 1997 was $57.65. In
2000, the average cost was $68.15. Write a linear equation to
estimate the average cost of a textbook in any given year
since 1997. Let x represent years since 1997.

Answer:
Economy The Yellow Cab Company budgeted $7000 for the
July gasoline supply. On average, they use 3000 gallons of
gasoline per month. Use the prediction equation where x
represents the month and y represents the cost of one gallon
of gasoline, to determine if they will have to add to their
budget. Explain.

Original equation

Replace x with 7.

Simplify.
Answer: If gas increases at the same rate, a gallon of gasoline
will cost $2.50 in July. 3000 gallons at this price is $7500, so
they will have to add $500 to their budget.
A student is starting college in 2004 and has saved
$400 to use for textbooks. Use the prediction equation
where x is the years since 1997 and
y is the average cost of a college textbook, to
determine whether they will have enough money for
5 textbooks.
Answer: If the cost of textbooks increases at the same rate,
the average cost will be $82.15 in 2004. Five textbooks at this
price is $410.75, so he will not have enough money.
 LESSON 5

WRITING EQUATIONS
in
POINT-SLOPE FORM
Example 1 Write an Equation Given Slope and a Point
Example 2 Write an Equation of a Horizontal Line
Example 3 Write an Equation in Standard Form
Example 4 Write an Equation in Slope-Intercept Form
Example 5 Write an Equation in Point-Slope Form
Write the point-slope form of an
equation for a line that passes

through (–2, 0) with slope

Point-slope
form

Simplify.

Answer: The equation is

Write the point-slope form of an
equation for a line that passes
through (4, –3) with slope –2.

Answer:
Write the point-slope form of an
equation for a horizontal line that
passes through (0, 5).

Point-slope
form

Simplify.

Answer: The equation is

Write the point-slope form of
an equation for a horizontal line that
passes through (–3, –4).

Answer:
Write in standard form.

In standard form, the variables are on the left side of the

equation. A, B, and C are all integers.

Original equation

Multiply each side by 4 to

eliminate the fraction.

Distributive Property
 Subtract 3x from each side.

Simplify.

Answer: The standard form of the equation

is
Write in standard form.

Answer:
Write in slope-intercept form.

In slope-intercept form, y is on the left side of the equation. The

constant and x are on the right side.

Original equation

Distributive Property

Add 5 to each side.

 Simplify.

Answer: The slope-intercept form of the equation

is
Write in slope-intercept form.

Answer:
The figure shows
trapezoid ABCD with
bases and
Write the point-slope
form of the lines
containing the bases
of the trapezoid.
Step 1 First find the slopes of and

Slope formula

Slope formula
Step 2 You can use either point for (x1, y1) in the
point-slope form.

Method 1 Use (–2, 3). Method 2 Use (4, 3).

 Method 1 Use (1, –2). Method 2 Use (6, –2).

Answer: The point-slope form of the equation containing

The point-slope form of the equation
containing
Write each equation in standard form.

Original equation

Add 3 to each side.

Answer: Simplify.

Original equation

Subtract 2 from each side.

Answer: Simplify.
The figure shows right
triangle ABC.

a. Write the point-slope form

of the line containing the
hypotenuse

Answer:

b. Write the equation in

standard form.
Answer:
 LESSON 6

GEOMETRY
PARALLEL
and
PERPENDICULAR LINES
Example 1 Parallel Line Through a Given Point
Example 2 Determine Whether Lines are Perpendicular
Example 3 Perpendicular Line Through a Given Point
Example 4 Perpendicular Line Through a Given Point
Write the slope-intercept form of an equation for the

line that passes through (4, –2) and is parallel to the

graph of

The line parallel to has the same slope,

Replace m with and (x, y) with (4, -2) in the

point-slope form.
Point-slope form

Replace m with

y with –2, and x with 4.

Simplify.

Distributive Property

Subtract 2 from each side.

 Write the equation in slope-
intercept form.

Answer: The equation is

Check You can check your result by graphing both
equations. The lines appear to be parallel.

The graph of passes through (4, –2).

Write the slope-intercept form of an equation for the

line that passes through (2, 3) and is parallel to the

graph of

Answer:
Geometry The height of a
trapezoid is measured on a
segment that is perpendicular to
a base. In trapezoid ARTP,
and are bases. Can
be used to measure the
height of the trapezoid? Explain.
Find the slope of each segment.

Slope of

Slope of

Slope of
Answer: The slope of and is 1 and the slope
of is not perpendicular to
and , so it cannot be used to measure height.
The graph shows the diagonals of
a rectangle. Determine whether
is perpendicular to

Answer: The slope of is and the slope of

is Since is not perpendicular to

Write the slope-intercept form for an equation of a line
that passes through (4, –1) and is perpendicular to the
graph of

Step 1 Find the slope of the given line.

Original equation

Subtract 7x from
each side.

Simplify.
 Divide each side
by –2.

Simplify.

Step 2 The slope of the given line is So, the slope

of the line perpendicular to this line is the

opposite reciprocal of or
Step 3 Use the point-slope form to find the equation.

Point-slope form

and

Simplify.

Distributive Property
 Subtract 1 from
each side.

Simplify.

Answer: The equation of the line is

Check You can check your result by graphing both
equations on a graphing calculator. Use the
CALC menu to verify that

passes through (4, –1).

Write the slope-intercept form for an equation of
a line that passes through (–3, 6) and is perpendicular to
the graph of

Answer:
Write the slope-intercept form for an equation of
a line perpendicular to the graph of
and passes through (0, 6).

Step 1 Find the slope of

Original equation

Subtract 5x from each

side.

Simplify.
 Divide each
side by 2.

Simplify.

Step 2 The slope of the given line is So, the slope

of the line perpendicular to this line is the

opposite reciprocal of or
Step 3 Substitute the slope and the given point into the point-
slope form of a linear equation. Then write the
equation in slope-intercept form.
Point-slope form

Replace x1 with 0,
y1 with 6, and m with

Distributive Property

Answer: The equation of the line is

Write the slope-intercept form for an equation of
a line perpendicular to the graph of
and passes through the x-intercept of that line.

Answer:
 LESSON 7

STATISTICS
SCATTER PLOTS
and
LINES of FIT
Example 1 Analyze Scatter Plots
Example 2 Find a Line of Fit
Example 3 Linear Interpolation
Determine whether the
graph shows a positive
correlation, a negative correlation,
no correlation.
If there is a positive or negative
correlation,
describe it.
The graph shows average personal
income for
U.S. citizens.
Answer: The graph shows a positive correlation. With each
year, the average personal income rose.
Determine whether the
graph shows a positive
correlation, a negative correlation,
no correlation.
If there is a positive or negative
correlation,
describe it.
The graph shows the average
students per computer in U.S.
public schools.
Answer: The graph shows a negative correlation. With each
year, more computers are in the schools, making the students
per computer rate smaller.
Determine whether each graph
shows a positive
correlation, a negative
correlation, no correlation.
If there is a positive or negative
correlation,
describe it.
a. The graph shows the
number of mail-order
prescriptions.

Answer: Positive correlation; with each year, the number of

mail-order prescriptions has increased.
Determine whether each graph
shows a positive
correlation, a negative
correlation, no correlation.
If there is a positive or negative
correlation,
describe it.
b. The graph shows the
percentage of voter
participation in
Presidential Elections.

Answer: no correlation
The table shows the world population growing at a rapid
rate.

Year Population (millions)

1650 500
1850 1000
1930 2000
1975 4000
1998 5900
Draw a scatter plot
and determine what
relationship exists,
if any, in the data.
Let the independent
variable x be the year
and let the dependent
variable y be the
population (in millions).

The scatter plot seems to indicate that as the year increases, the
population increases. There is a positive correlation between
the two variables.
Draw a line of fit for
the scatter plot.
No one line will pass
through all of the data
points. Draw a line that
passes close to the points.
A line is shown in the
scatter plot.
Write the slope-intercept form of an equation for equation
for the line of fit.
The line of fit shown passes through the data points (1850,
1000) and (1998, 5900).
Step 1 Find the slope.

Slope formula

Let
and

Simplify.
Step 2 Use m = 33.1 and either the point-slope form
or the slope-intercept form to write the equation.
You can use either data point. We chose
(1850, 1000).
Point-slope form Slope-intercept form

Answer: The equation of the line is

.
Check Check your result by substituting (1998, 5900)
into

Line of fit
equation
Replace x with
1998 and y with
5900.
Multiply.

Subtract.

The solution checks.

 The table shows the number of bachelor’s degrees received
since 1988.
Years Since 1988 2 4 6 8 10
Bachelor’s Degrees
Received (thousands) 1051 1136 1169 1165 1184

Source: National Center for Education Statistics

a. Draw a scatter plot and
determine what relationship
exists, if any, in the data.
Answer: The scatter plot seems
to indicate that as the number of
years increase, the number of
bachelor’s degrees received
increases. There is a positive
correlation between the two
variables.
b. Draw a line of best fit for the
scatter plot.
c. Write the slope-intercept form
of an equation for the line of
fit.
Answer: Using (4, 1137) and
(10, 1184),
Use the prediction equation
where x is the year and y is the population (in millions), to
predict the world population in 2010.

Original equation

Replace x with 2010.

Simplify.

Answer: 6,296,000,000
Use the equation where x is the years
since 1988 and y is the number of bachelor’s degrees (in
thousands), to predict the number of bachelor’s degrees
that will be received in 2005.

Answer: 1,204,000
THIS IS THE END
OF
THIS SESSON!
END