Question

Difficulty: MediumLinear Equations in Two Variables

In the xyxy-plane, a line passes through the point (5,1)(5, -1) and has a slope of 25\frac{2}{5}. If the line also passes through the point (15,p)(15, p), what is the value of pp?

Answer: 3

Answer

The value of pp is 33.
To find the value of pp, the equation of the line can be established using the point-slope form: yy1=m(xx1)y - y_1 = m(x - x_1). Substituting the given slope m=25m = \frac{2}{5} and the point (5,1)(5, -1) gives y(1)=25(x5)y - (-1) = \frac{2}{5}(x - 5). Simplifying this yields y+1=25x2y + 1 = \frac{2}{5}x - 2, which reduces to y=25x3y = \frac{2}{5}x - 3. Substituting the point (15,p)(15, p) into this equation gives p=25(15)3=63=3p = \frac{2}{5}(15) - 3 = 6 - 3 = 3.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the equation of the line using point-slope form.
y=25x3y = \frac{2}{5}x - 3
The equation of a line with slope mm passing through a point (x1,y1)(x_1, y_1) is yy1=m(xx1)y - y_1 = m(x - x_1). Substituting m=25m = \frac{2}{5} and the point (5,1)(5, -1) gives y(1)=25(x5)y - (-1) = \frac{2}{5}(x - 5). Simplifying this equation results in y+1=25x2y + 1 = \frac{2}{5}x - 2, which becomes y=25x3y = \frac{2}{5}x - 3.
2
Substitute the point (15,p)(15, p) into the linear equation.
p=3p = 3
Since the line passes through the point (15,p)(15, p), the coordinates must satisfy the equation of the line. Substituting x=15x = 15 and y=py = p into y=25x3y = \frac{2}{5}x - 3 gives p=25(15)3p = \frac{2}{5}(15) - 3, which simplifies to p=63=3p = 6 - 3 = 3.

Key Concept

Using the slope and a point on a line to find another coordinate along the same line.
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