Point-Slope Form

The line below can be manipulated by moving slider 1 and point A.

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  1. Move slider 1, what characteristic of the line is changing?
  2. Move point A around. Describe how the equation of the line changes as you do this.
  3. Move point A into Quadrant 3. Explain how the equation is different than before.
  4. Using the above information, write the general form of point-slope form.
  5. Write the equation of the line in point-slope form when the slope is -3 and the given point is (1,-4). Move the slider and the point to check your answer.
  6. Rearrange this equation into slope-intercept form (y=mx+b).

Athena Matherly, November 6, 2006, Created with GeoGebra

Please direct questions and comments to HCPS Mathematics Specialist Henrico County Public Schools, 2009