Question

Select the equation that contains the point (3, -9), and in which the graph of the line has a positive slope.

y – 9 = –4(x + 3)


y + 9 = 4(x – 3)


y – 9 = 4(x + 3)


y + 9 = –4(x - 3)

Answer 1

First thing to do is to solve each of these for y. The first one is y=-4x-3; the second one is y=4x-21; the third one is y=4x+21; the fourth one is y=-4x+3. From that you can tell the positive slopes are found in the second and third equations. Those are the ones we will test now for the point (3, -9). y=-9 and x=3, so let's fill in accordingly. The second equation filled in is -9=4(3)-21. Does the left side equal the right when we do the math? -9=12-21 and -9=-9. So the second one works. Just for the sake of completion, let's do the same with the third: -9=4(3)+21. Does -9=12+21? Of course it doesn't. Our equation is the second one above, y+9=4(x-3).