3.

5
Before
Now
Why?

Key Vocabulary
slope-intercept
form
standard form
x-intercept, p. 879
y-intercept, p. 879

Write and Graph

Equations of Lines
You found slopes of lines.
You will find equations of lines.
So you can find monthly gym costs, as in Example 4.

Linear equations may be written in different forms. The general form of a

linear equation in slope-intercept form is y 5 mx 1 b, where m is the slope
and b is the y-intercept.

EXAMPLE 1

Write an equation of a line from a graph

Write an equation of the line in slope-intercept form.

(0, 4)

Solution

STEP 1 Find the slope. Choose two points on the

graph of the line, (0, 4) and (3, 22).
4 2 (22)
023

6
m5}5}
5 22

23

STEP 2 Find the y-intercept. The line intersects the

(3, 22)

y-axis at the point (0, 4), so the y-intercept is 4.

STEP 3 Write the equation.

y 5 mx 1 b

Use slope-intercept form.

y 5 22x 1 4

Substitute 22 for m and 4 for b.

EXAMPLE 2

Write an equation of a parallel line

Write an equation of the line passing through the point (21, 1) that is
parallel to the line with the equation y 5 2x 2 3.
Solution

STEP 1 Find the slope m. The slope of a line parallel to y 5 2x 2 3 is the

same as the given line, so the slope is 2.
LINEAR EQUATIONS
The graph of a linear
equation represents
all the solutions of the
equation. So, the given
point must be a solution
of the equation.

STEP 2 Find the y-intercept b by using m 5 2 and (x, y) 5 (21, 1).

y 5 mx 1 b

Use slope-intercept form.

1 5 2(21) 1 b

Substitute for x, y, and m.

35b

Solve for b.

c Because m 5 2 and b 5 3, an equation of the line is y 5 2x 1 3.

180

Chapter 3 Parallel and Perpendicular Lines

CHECKING BY GRAPHING You can check that

equations are correct by graphing. In Example 2,

you can use a graph to check that y 5 2x 2 3 is
parallel to y 5 2x 1 3.
(FPNFUSZ

y 5 2x 1 3
(21, 1)

at classzone.com

y 5 2x 2 3

EXAMPLE 3

Write an equation of a perpendicular line

Write an equation of the line j passing through the point (2, 3) that is
perpendicular to the line k with the equation y 5 22x 1 2.
Solution

STEP 1 Find the slope m of line j. Line k has a slope of 22.

22 p m 5 21
1
m5}
2

The product of the slopes of lines is 21.

Divide each side by 22.

STEP 2 Find the y-intercept b by using m 5 }1 and (x, y) 5 (2, 3).

2

y 5 mx 1 b

Use slope-intercept form.

1
35}
(2) 1 b

Substitute for x, y, and m.

25b

Solve for b.

1
c Because m 5 }
and b 5 2, an equation

2
1
of line j is y 5 }
x 1 2. You can check
2

y 5 12 x 1 2

that the lines j and k are perpendicular

by graphing, then using a protractor to
measure one of the angles formed by
the lines.

y 5 22x 1 2
(2, 3)
1
2

GUIDED PRACTICE

for Examples 1, 2, and 3

1. Write an equation of the line in the graph

at the right.

(3, 1)

2. Write an equation of the line that passes

through (22, 5) and (1, 2).

3. Write an equation of the line that passes

(0, 21)

through the point (1, 5) and is parallel to the

line with the equation y 5 3x 2 5. Graph the
lines to check that they are parallel.
4. How do you know the lines x 5 4 and y 5 2 are perpendicular?

3.5 Write and Graph Equations of Lines

181

EXAMPLE 4

Write an equation of a line from a graph

GYM MEMBERSHIP The graph models the total

Gym Membership Cost

Cost (dollars)

cost of joining a gym. Write an equation of the

line. Explain the meaning of the slope and the
y-intercept of the line.
Solution

STEP 1 Find the slope.

y
400

(5, 363)

200

(2, 231)

0
0

2 231
132
m 5 363
} 5 } 5 44
522
3

2
4
Months

STEP 2 Find the y-intercept. Use the slope and one of the points on
the graph.
y 5 mx 1 b

Use slope-intercept form.

231 5 44 p 2 1 b

Substitute for x, y, and m.

143 5 b

Simplify.

STEP 3 Write the equation. Because m 5 44 and b 5 143, an equation of the

line is y 5 44x 1 143.
c The equation y 5 44x 1 143 models the cost. The slope is the monthly fee,
$44, and the y-intercept is the initial cost to join the gym, $143.
STANDARD FORM Another form of a linear equation is standard form. In

standard form, the equation is written as Ax 1 By 5 C, where A and B

are not both zero.

EXAMPLE 5

Graph a line with equation in standard form

Graph 3x 1 4y 5 12.
Solution
CHOOSE A METHOD
Another way you could
graph the equation is
to solve the equation
for y. Then the equation
will be in slope-intercept
form. Use rise and run
from the point where
the line crosses the
y-axis to find a second
point. Then graph
the line.

The equation is in standard form, so you can use the intercepts.

STEP 1 Find the intercepts.

To find the x-intercept, let y 5 0.

To find the y-intercept, let x 5 0.

3x 1 4y 5 12

3x 1 4y 5 12

3x 1 4(0) 5 12

3(0) 1 4y 5 12

x54

y53

STEP 2 Graph the line.

The intercepts are (4, 0) and
(0, 3). Graph these points, then
draw a line through the points.

(0, 3)

1
1

182

Chapter 3 Parallel and Perpendicular Lines

(4, 0)

GUIDED PRACTICE

for Examples 4 and 5

5. The equation y 5 50x 1 125 models the total cost of joining a climbing

gym. What are the meaning of the slope and the y-intercept of the line?
Graph the equation.
6. 2x 2 3y 5 6

7. y 5 4

8. x 5 23

WRITING EQUATIONS You can write linear equations to model real-world

situations, such as comparing costs to find a better buy.

EXAMPLE 6

Solve a real-world problem

DVD RENTAL You can rent DVDs at a local store for $4.00 each. An Internet

company offers a flat fee of $15.00 per month for as many rentals as you want.
How many DVDs do you need to rent to make the online rental a better buy?
Solution

ANOTHER WAY
For alternative methods
for solving the problem
in Example 6, turn
to page 188 for the
Problem Solving
Workshop.

STEP 1 Model each rental with an equation.

Cost of one months rental online: y 5 15
Cost of one months rental locally: y 5 4x, where x represents the
number of DVDs rented

STEP 2 Graph each equation.

Monthly DVD Rentals

Cost (dollars)

24

8
0

READ VOCABULARY
The point at which the
costs are the same is
sometimes called the
break-even point.

(3.75, 15)

16

y 5 15

y 5 4x
0

2
4
6
Number of rentals

The graphs intersect

at the point (3.75, 15).

c The point of intersection is (3.75, 15). Using the graph, you can see
that it is cheaper to rent locally if you rent 3 or fewer DVDs per month.
If you rent 4 or more DVDs per month, it is cheaper to rent online.

GUIDED PRACTICE

for Example 6

9. WHAT IF? In Example 6, suppose the online rental is $16.50 per month

and the local rental is $4 each. How many DVDs do you need to rent to
make the online rental a better buy?
10. How would your answer to Exercise 9 change if you had a 2-for-1 coupon

that you could use once at the local store?

3.5 Write and Graph Equations of Lines

183

3.5

HOMEWORK
KEY

EXERCISES

5 WORKED-OUT SOLUTIONS
on p. WS1 for Exs. 17, 23, and 61

5 STANDARDIZED TEST PRACTICE

Exs. 2, 9, 29, 64, and 65

SKILL PRACTICE
1. VOCABULARY What does intercept mean in the expression slope-intercept

form?
2.

EXAMPLE 1
on p. 180
for Exs. 322

WRITING Explain how you can use the standard form of a linear
equation to find the intercepts of a line.

WRITING EQUATIONS Write an equation of the line shown.

3.

4.

5.

(3, 0)

(23, 4)
1 x

(0, 22)

1
1

(25, 23)
(0, 24)

6.

(1, 22)

(23, 3)

7.

8.

y
1

(5, 6)
(25, 21)

1
1

(1, 0)
2

MULTIPLE CHOICE Which equation is an

equation of the line in the graph?

(22, 2)

B y 5 2}
x11
2

x
A y 5 2}
2
C y 5 22x

22

D y 5 22x 1 1

WRITING EQUATIONS Write an equation of the line with the given

slope m and y-intercept b.

10. m 5 25, b 5 212

11. m 5 3, b 5 2

5
2

12. m 5 4, b 5 26
2
9

11

4
, b 5 2}
14. m 5 }

13. m 5 2}, b 5 0

15. m 5 2}
, b 5 212
5

WRITING EQUATIONS Write an equation of the line that passes through the

given point P and has the given slope m.

16. P(21, 0), m 5 21

17. P(5, 4), m 5 4

2
3

19. P(28, 22), m 5 2}

18. P(6, 22), m 5 3

1
6

20. P(0, 23), m 5 2}

21. P(213, 7), m 5 0

22. WRITING EQUATIONS Write an equation of a line with undefined slope

that passes through the point (3, 22).

184

Chapter 3 Parallel and Perpendicular Lines

(1, 23)

(2, 23)

9.

EXAMPLE 2

PARALLEL LINES Write an equation of the line that passes through point P

on p. 180
for Exs. 2329

and is parallel to the line with the given equation.

23. P(0, 21), y 5 22x 1 3

24. P(27, 24), y 5 16

1
25. P(3, 8), y 2 1 5 }
(x 1 4)

26. P(22, 6), x 5 25

27. P(22, 1), 10x 1 4y 5 28

28. P(4, 0), 2x 1 2y 5 12

29.

MULTIPLE CHOICE Line a passes through points (22, 1) and (2, 9).
Which equation is an equation of a line parallel to line a?

A y 5 22x 1 5

1
x25
C y5}

B y 5 2}
x15
2

D y 5 2x 2 5

EXAMPLE 3

PERPENDICULAR LINES Write an equation of the line that passes through

on p. 181
for Exs. 3035

point P and is perpendicular to the line with the given equation.

7
3

30. P(0, 0), y 5 29x 2 1

31. P(21, 1), y 5 }x 1 10

32. P(4, 26), y 5 23

33. P(2, 3), y 2 4 5 22(x 1 3) 34. P(0, 25), x 5 20

35. P(28, 0), 3x 2 5y 5 6

EXAMPLE 5

GRAPHING EQUATIONS Graph the equation.

on p. 182
for Exs. 3645

36. 8x 1 2y 5 210

37. x 1 y 5 1

38. 4x 2 y 5 28

39. 2x 1 3y 5 29

40. y 2 2 5 21

41. y 1 2 5 x 2 1

42. x 1 3 5 24

43. 2y 2 4 5 2x 1 1

44. 3(x 2 2) 5 2y 2 4

45. ERROR ANALYSIS Describe and correct the error in finding the x- and

y-intercepts of the graph of 5x 2 3y 5 215.

To find the x-intercept,
let x 5 0:
5x 2 3y 5 215

To find the y-intercept,

let y 5 0:
5x 2 3y 5 215

5(0) 2 3y 5 215

5x 2 3(0) 5 215

y55

x 5 23

IDENTIFYING PARALLEL LINES Which lines are parallel, if any?

46. y 5 3x 2 4

47. x 1 2y 5 9

x 1 3y 5 6
3(x 1 1) 5 y 2 2

48. x 2 6y 5 10

y 5 0.5 x 1 7
2x 1 2y 5 25

6x 2 y 5 11
x 1 6y 5 12

USING INTERCEPTS Identify the x- and y-intercepts of the line. Use the

intercepts to write an equation of the line.

49.

50.

51.

y
1

21
1

y
20

10
1

52. INTERCEPTS A line passes through the points (210, 23) and (6, 1).

Where does the line intersect the x-axis? Where does the line intersect
the y-axis?
3.5 Write and Graph Equations of Lines

185

SOLUTIONS TO EQUATIONS Graph the linear equations. Then use the graph
to estimate how many solutions the equations share.

53. y 5 4x 1 9

54. 3y 1 4x 5 16

4x 2 y 5 1

55. y 5 25x 1 6

2x 2 y 5 18

10x 1 2y 5 12

56.

ALGEBRA Solve Exercises 5355 algebraically. (For help, see Skills

Review Handbook, p. 880.) Make a conjecture about how the solution(s)
can tell you whether the lines intersect, are parallel, or are the same line.

57.

ALGEBRA Find a value for k so that the line through (21, k) and
(27, 22) is parallel to the line with equation y 5 x 1 1.

58.

ALGEBRA Find a value for k so that the line through (k, 2) and (7, 0) is
28
.
perpendicular to the line with equation y 5 x 2 }
5

59. CHALLENGE Graph the points R(27, 23), S(22, 3), and T(10, 27). Connect

them to make nRST. Write an equation of the line containing each side.
Explain how you can use slopes to show that nRST has one right angle.

PROBLEM SOLVING
on p. 182
for Exs. 6061

60. WEB HOSTING The graph models the total

cost of using a web hosting service for

several months. Write an equation of the
line. Tell what the slope and y-intercept
mean in this situation. Then find the total
cost of using the web hosting service for
one year.

Web Hosting

Cost (dollars)

EXAMPLE 4

y
300
(10, 280)
200
100

GPS
QSPCMFN
TPMWJOH
IFMQ
BU
DMBTT[POFDPN

(0, 50)
0

6
8
Months

10

12 x

61. SCIENCE Scientists believe that a Tyrannosaurus

Rex weighed about 2000 kilograms by age 14. It

then had a growth spurt for four years, gaining
2.1 kilograms per day. Write an equation to
model this situation. What are the slope and
y-intercept? Tell what the slope and y-intercept
mean in this situation.
GPS
QSPCMFN
TPMWJOH
IFMQ
BU
DMBTT[POFDPN

Field Museum, Chicago, Illinois

EXAMPLE 6

62. MULTI-STEP PROBLEM A national park has two options: a $50 pass for all

on p. 183
for Exs. 6265

admissions during the year, or a $4 entrance fee each time you enter.
a. Model Write an equation to model the cost of going to the park for a

year using a pass and another equation for paying a fee each time.
b. Graph Graph both equations you wrote in part (a).
c. Interpret How many visits do you need to make for the pass to be

cheaper? Explain.

186

5 WORKED-OUT SOLUTIONS
on p. WS1

5 STANDARDIZED
TEST PRACTICE

63. PIZZA COSTS You are buying slices of pizza for you and your friends.

A small slice costs $2 and a large slice costs $3. You have $24 to spend.
Write an equation in standard form Ax 1 By 5 C that models this
situation. What do the values of A, B, and C mean in this situation?
SHORT RESPONSE You run at a rate of 4 miles per hour and your friend
runs at a rate of 3.5 miles per hour. Your friend starts running 10 minutes
before you, and you run for a half hour on the same path. Will you catch
up to your friend? Use a graph to support your answer.

64.

65.

EXTENDED RESPONSE Audrey and Sara are making

jewelry. Audrey buys 2 bags of beads and 1 package of
clasps for a total of $13. Sara buys 5 bags of beads and
2 packages of clasps for a total of $27.50.

a. Let b be the price of one bag of beads and let c be the

price of one package of clasps. Write equations to

represent the total cost for Audrey and the total cost
for Sara.
b. Graph the equations from part (a).
c. Explain the meaning of the intersection of the two

lines in terms of the real-world situation.

66. CHALLENGE Michael is deciding which gym membership to buy.

Points (2, 112) and (4, 174) give the cost of gym membership at one gym
after two and four months. Points (1, 62) and (3, 102) give the cost of
gym membership at a second gym after one and three months. Write
equations to model the cost of each gym membership. At what point do
the graphs intersect, if they intersect? Which gym is cheaper? Explain.

MIXED REVIEW
PREVIEW
Prepare for
Lesson 3.6
in Exs. 6769.

Find the length of each segment. Round to the nearest tenth of a unit. (p. 15)
67.

68.

A (1, 4)

69.

y
1

S (1, 1)

N (2, 0)

2 x

B (4, 2)

M (23, 23)
1

T (6, 23)

Describe the pattern in the numbers. Write the next number in the pattern. (p. 72)
70. 22, 27, 212, 217, . . .

71. 4, 8, 16, 32, . . .

72. 101, 98, 95, 92, . . .

Find m 1 and m 2. Explain your reasoning. (p. 154)

73.

74.

75.
648

1 2

1578

828

EXTRA PRACTICE for Lesson 3.5, p. 901

2
n

ONLINE QUIZ at classzone.com

3.5

187

Using

ALTERNATIVE METHODS

LESSON 3.5
Another Way to Solve Example 6, page 183
MULTIPLE REPRESENTATIONS In Example 6 on page 183, you saw how to
graph equations to solve a problem about renting DVDs. Another way you can
solve the problem is using a table. Alternatively, you can use the equations to
solve the problem algebraically.

PROBLEM

METHOD 1

DVD RENTAL You can rent DVDs at a local store for $4.00 each. An
Internet company offers a flat fee of $15.00 per month for as many
rentals as you want. How many DVDs do you need to rent to make
the online rental a better buy?

Using a Table You can make a table to answer the question.

STEP 1 Make a table representing each rental option.

DVDs
rented

Renting
locally

Renting
online

$4

$15

$8

$15

STEP 2 Add rows to your table until you see a pattern.

DVDs
rented

Renting
locally

Renting
online

$4

$15

$8

$15

$12

$15

$16

$15

$20

$15

$24

$15

STEP 3 Analyze the table. Notice that the values in the second column
(the cost of renting locally) are less than the values in the third
column (the cost of renting online) for three or fewer DVDs. However,
the values in the second column are greater than those in the third
column for four or more DVDs.
c It is cheaper to rent locally if you rent 3 or fewer DVDs per month.
If you rent 4 or more DVDs per month, it is cheaper to rent online.

188

Chapter 3 Parallel and Perpendicular Lines

METHOD 2

Using Algebra You can solve one of the equations for one of its variables.
Then substitute that expression for the variable in the other equation.

STEP 1 Write an equation for each rental option.

Cost of one months rental online: y 5 15
Cost of one months rental locally: y 5 4x, where x represents the
number of DVDs rented

STEP 2 Substitute the value of y from one equation into the other equation.
y 5 4x
15 5 4x
3.75 5 x

Substitute 15 for y.
Divide each side by 4.

STEP 3 Analyze the solution of the equation. If you could rent 3.75 DVDs, your
cost for local and online rentals would be the same. However, you can
only rent a whole number of DVDs. Look at what happens when you
rent 3 DVDs and when you rent 4 DVDs, the whole numbers just less
than and just greater than 3.75.
c It is cheaper to rent locally if you rent 3 or fewer DVDs per month.
If you rent 4 or more DVDs per month, it is cheaper to rent online.

P R AC T I C E
1. IN-LINE SKATES You can rent in-line skates

for $5 per hour, or buy a pair of skates for

$130. How many hours do you need to skate
for the cost of buying skates to be cheaper
than renting them?

4. MANUFACTURING A company buys a new

widget machine for $1200. It costs $5 to make

each widget. The company sells each widget
for $15. How many widgets do they need to
sell to earn back the money they spent on the
machine?

2. WHAT IF? Suppose the in-line skates in

Exercise 1 also rent for $12 per day. How

many days do you need to skate for the cost
of buying skates to be cheaper than
renting them?
3. BUTTONS You buy a button machine for

$200 and supplies to make one hundred fifty

buttons for $30. Suppose you charge $2 for
a button. How many buttons do you need to
sell to earn back what you spent?

5. WRITING Which method(s) did you use to

solve Exercises 14? Explain your choice(s).

6. MONEY You saved $1000. If you put this

money in a savings account, it will earn

1.5% annual interest. If you put the $1000 in
a certificate of deposit (CD), it will earn 3%
annual interest. To earn the most money,
does it ever make sense to put your money in
the savings account? Explain.

Using Alternative Methods

189