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# Equation Line

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## Equation of a Line Passing Through Two Points

A line segment can be defined as a connection between two points. Any two points, in two-dimensional geometry, can be connected using a line segment or simply, a straight line. Equation of a line can be found in the following three ways.

1. Slope Intercept Method

2. Point Slope Method

3. Standard Method

When two points that lie on a particular line are given, usually, the point-slope method is followed.

The equation of a line is y - y$_{1}$ = m(x - x$_{1}$), where y1 is the coordinate of the Y-axis, m is the slope, and x$_{1}$ is the coordinate on the X-axis.

### Find the Slope of the Line Passing Through Two Given Points

The slope or gradient of a line is the changing height of the line from the X-axis. For every unit of X, a change in Y on the line is known as the slope of a line.

To calculate the slope, the formula used is m = $\frac{y_{2} - y_{1}}{x_{2} - x_{1}}$

Here, the points are (2,5) and (6,7).

So, comparing the point to the general notation of coordinates on a Cartesian plane, i.e., (x, y) we get (x$_{1}$, y$_{1}$) = (2, 5) and (x$_{2}$, y$_{2}$) = (6, 7).

Substituting the values into the formula,

m = $\frac{7-5}{6-2}$

m = $\frac{2}{3}$

### Did You Know?

What happens if we interchange the values of (x$_{1}$, y$_{1}$) and (x$_{2}$, y$_{2}$)?

The value of m remains unchanged. The positioning of the coordinates does not affect the value of the slope.

Taking the same example as above but interchanging the values of (x$_{1}$, y$_{1}$) and (x$_{2}$,y$_{2}$) we get, (x$_{1}$, y$_{1}$) = (6, 7) and (x$_{2}$, y$_{2}$) = (2, 5)

m = $\frac{5-7}{2-6}$

m = $\frac{-2}{-3}$ = $\frac{2}{3}$

Hence, any one of the two coordinates can be used as (x$_{1}$, y$_{1}$) and the other as (x$_{2}$, y$_{2}$)

### Finding the Equation of the Line Passing Through Two Given Points

Steps to find the equation of a line passing through given two points is as follows.

1. Find the slope/gradient of the line.

2. Substitute the values of the slope and any one of the given points into the formula.

3. Simplify to obtain an equation resembling the standard equation of line, i.e., Ax + By + C = 0, where A, B, and C are constants.

Taking the above example, where (x$_{1}$, y$_{1}$) = (2,5), (x$_{2}$, y$_{2}$) = (6, 7) and the slope is calculated as m = $\frac{2}{3}$.

Substitute the value of m and anyone point in the formula y - y$_{1}$ = m(x - x$_{1}$).

y - y$_{1}$ = m(x - x$_{1}$)

y - 5 = $\frac{2}{3}$(x - 2)

Cross-multiply and simplify:

y - 5 = $\frac{2}{3}$(x - 2)

⇒ 3(y - 5) = 2(x - 2)

⇒ 3y - 15 = 2x - 4

⇒ 3y - 2x = 15 - 4

⇒ 3y - 2x = 11

The same equation can be expressed in slope-intercept form by making the equations in terms of y as shown below.

3y - 2x = 11

⇒ 3y = 2x + 11

⇒y = $\frac{2}{3}$x + $\frac{11}{3}$

### Solved Examples

1. Find the Equation of the Line Passing through the Points (2,3) and (-1,0).

For calculating the slope, the formula used is m = $\frac{y_{2} - y_{1}}{x_{2} - x_{1}}$

Here, the points are (2,3) and (-1,0)

So, comparing the point to the general notation of coordinates on a Cartesian plane, i.e., (x, y) we get (x$_{1}$, y$_{1}$) = (2, 3) and (x$_{2}$, y$_{2}$) = (-1, 0).

Substituting the values into the formula,

⇒m = $\frac{0-3}{-1-2}$

⇒m = $\frac{-3}{-3}$

⇒m = 1

Substitute the value of m and any coordinate in the formula y - y$_{1}$ = m(x - x$_{1}$).

y - y$_{1}$ = m(x - x$_{1}$)

y - 0 = 1(x - (-1))

Simplify the equations:

y - 0 = 1(x -(-1))

⇒ y = x + 1

⇒ y - x = 1

The same equation can be expressed in slope-intercept form by making the equations in terms of y.

y = x + 1

The equation of the line passing through the points (2,3) and (-1,0) is y = x + 1 or y - x = 1.

2. Find the Equation of the Line Passing through the Point (1,3) and Having a Slope  $\frac{1}{3}$.

Substituting the value of m and the coordinate in the formula y - y$_{1}$ = m(x - x$_{1}$).

y - y$_{1}$ = m(x - x$_{1}$)

y - 3 = $\frac{1}{3}$(x - 1)

Cross multiply and simplify the equations:

⇒ y - 3 = $\frac{1}{3}$(x - 1)

⇒ 3(y - 3) = 1(x - 1)

Simplify the equations further,

⇒ 3(y - 3) = 1(x - 1)

⇒ 3y - 9 = x - 1

⇒ 3y - x = 8

The same equation can be expressed in slope-intercept form by making the equations in terms of y.

3y - x = 8

⇒ 3y = x + 8

⇒ y = $\frac{1}{3}$x + $\frac{8}{3}$

The equation of the line passing through the point (1,3) and having a slope $\frac{1}{3}$ is 3y - x = 8 or y = $\frac{1}{3}$x + $\frac{8}{3}$.

1. Can We Find the Equation of a Line, if Only One Coordinate is Given? If Not, What Additional Inputs are Required to Find the Equation of the Line Passing Through the Given Point?

Answer: Finding the equation of the line when only one coordinate is given is not possible because when a point is existing in space, an infinite number of lines can be passing through it. So, finding the one particular equation will be like finding a needle in a haystack.

For finding the correct or desired equation we must have either the slope of the line or the second set of coordinates. The slope will help us get an idea about the height of the line and the other coordinate can give an estimate about the length of the line.

Moreover, as the formula to calculate the equation of the line is known, y - y₁ = m(x - x₁), it can be seen that the equation of the line can be found with any two of the factors mentioned.

2. How Can We Find the Equation of a Line Passing Through Two Points in 3d?

Answer: Like in the two-dimensional plane we need a slope and a point through which the line passes. In a three-dimensional plane, a point through which the line passes is needed, along with a direction vector to entail the direction of the line.

In two dimensional geometry, the slope gives the depth or height of the line. Similarly, in three-dimensional geometry, the idea of the direction of the line whose equation has to be derived is given by the direction vector.

The formula to find the equation passing through two points in 3d is, (x - x₁)/l = (y - y₁)/m = (z - z₁)/n, where the direction vector is (l, m, n) and the point through which the line is passing is (x₁, y₁, z₁).