Question

How do you find the slope and the intercept of the line $8x+4y=-96$?

Answer 1

In order to solve the solve question, first we need to convert the given linear equation in the standard slope intercept form of a linear equation by simplifying the given equation. The slope intercept form of a linear equation is,$y=mx+b$, where ‘m’ is the slope of the line and ‘b’ is the y-intercept. Then for x-intercept, we need to put the value of y = 0 and solve for the value of ‘x’. in this way we will get all required values.

Complete step by step solution:
We have given that,
$8x+4y=-96$
As we know that the slope intercept form of a linear equation is,
$y=mx+b$, where ‘m’ is the slope of the line and ‘b’ is the y-intercept.
Converting the given equation in slope intercept form of equation;
$8x+4y=-96$
Subtracting ‘8x’ to both the sides of the equation, we get
$8x+4y-8x=-96-8x$
Combining the like terms of the above equation, we get
$4y=-96-8x$
Dividing both the sides by 4, we get
$y=-\dfrac{96}{4}-\dfrac{8}{4}x$
Simplifying the numbers, we get
$y=-24-2x$
Rewrite the above equation as.
$y=-2x+\left( -24 \right)$
Comparing it with the slope intercept form of a linear equation i.e. $y=mx+b$
Thus,
Slope = m = -2
Y-intercept = b = -24
Now,
Finding the x-intercept,
We need to put the value of y = 0,
We have,
$y=-2x+\left( -24 \right)$
$0=-2x+\left( -24 \right)$
Adding 24 to both the sides of the equation, we get
$24=-2x$
Dividing both the sides of the above equation by -2, we get
$x=-12$
Therefore,
The x-intercept = -12.

Note: While solving these types of questions, students need to know the concept of slope intercept form of linear equation. Solve the equation very carefully and do the calculation part very explicitly to avoid making any errors. For a straight line, if two points $A({{x}_{1}},{{y}_{1}})$ and $B({{x}_{2}},{{y}_{2}})$ are situated on the line, then by using the slope formula we can calculate the slope (m) as, $m=\dfrac{{{y}_{2}}-{{y}_{1}}}{{{x}_{2}}-{{x}_{1}}}$.