Section 1.

3 • Linear Equations in Two Variables 9

Name______________________________________________
Section 1.3 Linear Equations in Two Variables

Objective: In this lesson you learned how to find and use the slopes of
lines to write and graph linear equations in two variables.

Important Vocabulary Define each term or concept.

Slope The number of units a nonvertical line rises (or falls) vertically for each unit of
horizontal change from left to right.
Parallel Two distinct nonvertical lines are parallel if and only if their slopes are
equal. That is, m1 = m2.
Perpendicular Two nonvertical lines are perpendicular if and only if their slopes are
negative reciprocals of each other. That is, m1 = − 1/m2.

I. Using Slope (Pages 25−26) What you should learn

How to use slope to
The equation y = mx + b is called a linear equation in two graph linear equations in
variables because . . . the graph of this equation in the two two variables
variables x and y is a straight line.

A line whose slope is positive rises from left to right.

A line whose slope is negative falls from left to right.
The slope-intercept form of the equation of a line is
y = mx + b , where m is the slope and the
y-intercept is ( 0 , b ).
A vertical line has an equation of the form x=a . The
equation of a vertical line cannot be written in the form
y = mx + b because . . . the slope of a vertical line is y
5
undefined.
Example 1: Explain how to graph the linear equation 3

y = − 2/3x − 4. Then sketch its graph.

Because b = − 4, the y-intercept is (0, − 4). 1

Because the slope is − 2/3, the line falls 2 units -5 -3 -1 1 3 5

x
-1
for every 3 units the line moves to the right.
-3

-5

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10 Chapter 1 • Functions and Their Graphs

Example 2: Sketch and label the graph of (a) y = − 1 and

(b) x = 3.
(a) y (b) y
5 5

3 3

1 1

x x
-5 -3 -1-1 1 3 5 -5 -3 -1-1 1 3 5

-3 -3

-5 -5

II. Finding the Slope of a Line (Pages 27−28)

What you should learn
How to find slopes of
The formula for the slope of a line passing through the points lines
(x1, y1) and (x2, y2) is m = (y2 − y1)/(x2 − x1) .
To find the slope of the line through the points (− 2, 5) and
(4, − 3), . . . subtract − 3 from 5 and divide this result by the
difference of − 2 and 4.

If a line falls from left to right, it has negative slope. If a

line is horizontal, it has zero slope. If a line is
vertical, it has undefined slope. If a line rises from left to
right, it has positive slope.

III. Writing Linear Equations in Two Variables (Page 29) What you should learn
How to write linear
The point-slope form of the equation of a line is equations in two
y − y1 = m(x − x1) . variables

The point-slope form is most useful for . . . finding the

equation of a line.

The two-point form of the equation of a line is

y − y1 = (y2 − y1)/(x2 − x1)⋅(x − x1) .

Larson/Hostetler Precalculus/Precalculus with Limits Notetaking Guide IAE

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 Section 1.3 • Linear Equations in Two Variables 11
Name______________________________________________
Example 3: Find an equation of the line that passes through the
points (1, 5) and (− 3, 7) using (a) the point-slope
form and (b) the slope-intercept form.
(a) y − 5 = − 0.5(x − 1)
(b) y = − 0.5x + 5.5

IV. Parallel and Perpendicular Lines (Page 30) What you should learn
How to use slope to
The relationship between the slopes of two lines that are parallel identify parallel and
is . . . that the slopes are equal. perpendicular lines
The relationship between the slopes of two lines that are
perpendicular is . . . that the slopes are negative reciprocals of
each other.
A line that is parallel to a line whose slope is 2 has slope 2 .
A line that is perpendicular to a line whose slope is 2 has slope
− 1/2 .

V. Applications of Slope (Pages 31−33) What you should learn

How to use linear
In real-life problems, the slope of a line can be interpreted as equations in two
either a(n) ratio or a(n) rate . If the x-axis variables to model and
solve real-life problems
and y-axis have the same unit of measure, then the slope has no
units and is a ratio . If the x-axis and y-axis have
different units of measure, then the slope is a rate or rate of
change .

Describe a real-life situation in which slope is a ratio.

Answers will vary.

Describe a real-life situation in which slope is a rate of change.

Answers will vary.

Linear or straight-line depreciation is . . . used when the same

amount of depreciation is claimed each year over the useful life
of property.

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12 Chapter 1 • Functions and Their Graphs

The prediction method in which an estimated point does not lie

between the given points is called linear extrapolation .
When the estimated point lies between two given points, the
procedure is called linear interpolation .

Every line has an equation that can be written in general form,

which is given as Ax + By + C = 0 , where A
and B are not both zero.

Additional notes

y y y
5 5 5

3 3 3

1 1 1

x x x
-5 -3 -1-1 1 3 5 -5 -3 -1-1 1 3 5 -5 -3 -1-1 1 3 5

-3 -3 -3

-5 -5 -5

Homework Assignment

Page(s)

Exercises

Larson/Hostetler Precalculus/Precalculus with Limits Notetaking Guide IAE

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