Exercise 45 Page 299

Let's start by recalling the Slope Formula. m=y_2- y_1/x_2- x_1 The above formula is usually used to determine the slope m of the line that connects two given points, ( x_1, y_1) and ( x_2, y_2). In this case, however, we are given the slope of a line and two points, one of them with a missing coordinate. Slope:& -5/2 [0.5em] Point1:& ( 3, y) Point2:& ( 1, 9) When we substitute these values into the Slope Formula, it does not matter which point we choose to use as ( x_1, y_1) or ( x_2, y_2). Both of them will give us the same result! -5/2=y- 9/3- 1 or -5/2=9- y/1- 3 Let's use the points in the given order and solve for the unknown coordinate.

Therefore, we have found that y=4.