1

Section 8.1b: Equations of the Line

Finding Equations of Parallel Lines

Note: Parallel lines have the same slope.

To find the parallel line
Given an equation and a point (𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ),
Step 1: Write the given equation in the slope-intercept form:
𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏
and identify the slope 𝑚.
Step 2: Substitute the values for the slope 𝑚 and the given point
(𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ) into the point-slope form:
𝑦 − 𝑦1 = 𝑚(𝑥 − 𝑥1 )
Step 3: Solve for 𝑦.
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Example 1: Find the equation of the parallel line to 𝑦 = 4𝑥 + 1 that

passes through the point (3, 2).

Step 1: The equation is already in the form:

𝑦 = 4𝑥 + 1
𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 𝑚 = 4

Step 2: For the point (3, 2), 𝑥1 = 3 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦1 = 2

𝑦 − 𝑦1 = 𝑚(𝑥 − 𝑥1 )

𝑦 − 2 = 4(𝑥 − 3)
Step 3:
𝑦 − 2 = 4(𝑥 − 3)
𝑦 − 2 = 4𝑥 − 12
𝑦 − 2 + 2 = 4𝑥 − 12 + 2
𝑦 = 4𝑥 − 10
Answer: 𝑦 = 4𝑥 − 10 (parallel line in slope-intercept form)
Answer: 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 4𝑥 − 10 (parallel line in function notation)
Convert the answer to standard form: 𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵𝑦 = 𝐶
𝑦 = 4𝑥 − 10
First, subtract 4x on both sides:
−4𝑥 + 𝑦 = 4𝑥 − 4𝑥 − 10
−4𝑥 + 𝑦 = −10
Second, multiply the equation by -1 to make 𝑥 positive.
−1(−4𝑥 + 𝑦 = −10)
 3

4𝑥 − 𝑦 = 10
Answer: 4𝑥 − 𝑦 = 10 (parallel line in standard form)

Exercise: Find the equation of the parallel line to 𝑦 = 5𝑥 + 2 that

passes through the point (1, 4). Write the answer in slope-intercept
form, function notation, and standard form.

Step 1: The equation is already in the slope-intercept form:

𝑦 = 5𝑥 + 2
𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 𝑚 = 5

Step 2: For the point (1, 4), 𝑥1 = 1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦1 = 4

𝑦 − 𝑦1 = 𝑚(𝑥 − 𝑥1 )

𝑦 − 4 = 5(𝑥 − 1)
Step 3:
𝑦 − 4 = 5(𝑥 − 1)
𝑦 − 4 = 5𝑥 − 5
𝑦 − 4 + 4 = 5𝑥 − 5 + 4
𝑦 = 5𝑥 − 1
Answer: 𝑦 = 5𝑥 − 1 (parallel line in slope-intercept form)
Answer: 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 5𝑥 − 1 (parallel line in function notation)
 4

Convert the answer to standard form: 𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵𝑦 = 𝐶

𝑦 = 5𝑥 − 1
First, subtract 5x on both sides:
−5𝑥 + 𝑦 = −1
−1(−5𝑥 + 𝑦 = −1)
5𝑥 − 𝑦 = 1
Answer: 5𝑥 − 𝑦 = 1 (parallel line in standard form)

Example 2: Find the equation of the parallel line to 2𝑥 + 3𝑦 = 9 that

passes through the point (4, 1).

Step 1: 2𝑥 + 3𝑦 = 9 is in standard form. Put it in slope-intercept

form 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏 by solving for 𝑦,

2𝑥 + 3𝑦 = 9

2𝑥 − 2𝑥 + 3𝑦 = −2𝑥 + 9

3𝑦 = −2𝑥 + 9

3𝑦 −2𝑥 + 9
=
3 3

−2
𝑦= 3
𝑥 +3
 5

−2
Now, we identify the slope: 𝑚 =
3

Step 2: For the point (4, 1), 𝑥1 = 4 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦1 = 1

𝑦 − 𝑦1 = 𝑚(𝑥 − 𝑥1 )

−2
𝑦−1= 3
(𝑥 − 4)
Step 3:
−2
𝑦−1= (𝑥 − 4)
3
−2 8
𝑦−1= 3
𝑥 +3

We add 1 to both sides, we need to change 1 to a fraction that has the

3
denominator of 3. 1 = .
3
−2 8 3
𝑦−1+1= 3
𝑥 +3+3
−2 11
𝑦= 3
𝑥 + 3

Answer: 𝑦 = −2
3
𝑥 + 11
3
(parallel line in slope-intercept form)
Answer: 𝑓(𝑥) = −2
3
𝑥 + 11
3
(parallel line in function notation)
Convert to standard form: 𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵𝑦 = 𝐶
−2 11
𝑦= 3
𝑥 + 3

First, multiply the equation by 3:

−2 11
3 (𝑦 = 3
𝑥 + 3
)

3𝑦 = −2𝑥 + 11
2𝑥 + 3𝑦 = −2𝑥 + 2𝑥 + 11
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2𝑥 + 3𝑦 = 11
Answer: 2𝑥 + 3𝑦 = 11 (parallel line in standard form)

Exercise: Find the equation of the parallel line to 4𝑥 + 5𝑦 = 20 that

passes through the point (3, 4). Write the answer in slope-intercept
form, function notation, and standard form.

Step 1: 4𝑥 + 5𝑦 = 20 is in standard form. Put it in slope-

intercept form 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏 by solving for 𝑦,

4𝑥 + 5𝑦 = 20

4𝑥 − 4𝑥 + 5𝑦 = −4𝑥 + 20

5𝑦 = −4𝑥 + 20

5𝑦 −4𝑥 + 20
=
5 5

−4
𝑦= 5
𝑥 +4

−4
Now, we identify the slope: 𝑚 =
5

Step 2: For the point (3, 4), 𝑥1 = 3 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦1 = 4

𝑦 − 𝑦1 = 𝑚(𝑥 − 𝑥1 )

−4
𝑦−4= 5
(𝑥 − 3)
 7

Step 3:
−4
𝑦−4= (𝑥 − 3)
5
−4 12
𝑦−4= 5
𝑥 + 5

We add 4 to both sides, we need to change 4 to a fraction that has the

20
denominator of 5. 4 = .
5
−4 12 20
𝑦−4+4= 5
𝑥 + 5
+ 5
−4 32
𝑦= 5
𝑥 + 5

Answer: 𝑦 = −4
5
𝑥 + 32
5
(parallel line in slope-intercept form)
Answer: 𝑓(𝑥) = −4
5
𝑥 + 32
5
(parallel line in function notation)
Convert to standard form: 𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵𝑦 = 𝐶
−4 32
𝑦= 5
𝑥 + 5

First, multiply the equation by 5:

−4 32
5 (𝑦 = 5
𝑥 + 5
)

5𝑦 = −4𝑥 + 32
4𝑥 + 5𝑦 = −4𝑥 + 4𝑥 + 32
4𝑥 + 5𝑦 = 32
Answer: 4𝑥 + 5𝑦 = 32 (parallel line in standard form)
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Finding the Equations of Perpendicular Lines

Note: A perpendicular line has as its slope the negative reciprocal of

the given slope. (flip the fraction and change the sign to the opposite)
Example
2 3
𝑚= 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟 = −
3 2
4 7
𝑚 = − 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟 =
7 4
5 1
𝑚 = 5 = 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟 = −
1 5

To find the perpendicular line

Given an equation and a point (𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ),
Step 1: Write the given equation in the slope-intercept form
𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏
and identify the slope 𝑚.
 9

Step 2: Find the perpendicular slope 𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟 which is the negative

reciprocal of the slope 𝑚.

Step 3: Place the slope 𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟 and the given point into the
point-slope form 𝑦 − 𝑦1 = 𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟 (𝑥 − 𝑥1 ) and solve for 𝑦.

Example 1: Find the perpendicular line to 𝑦 = 3𝑥 − 1 that passes

through the point (−2, 5).

3
Step 1: 𝑦 = 3𝑥 − 1 𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 𝑚 = 3 =
1

Step 2: the perpendicular slope: 𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟 = −1

3

Step 3: For the point (−2, 5), 𝑥1 = −2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦1 = 5

𝑦 − 𝑦1 = 𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟 (𝑥 − 𝑥1 )

−1
𝑦−5= 3
(𝑥 − −2)

−1
𝑦−5= 3
(𝑥 + 2)
−1 2
𝑦−5= 3
𝑥 −3

We add 5 to both sides, but we need to change 5 into a fraction that has
15
the same denominator of 3. 5 = .
3
−1 2 15
𝑦−5+5= 3
𝑥 −3+ 3
−1 13
𝑦= 3
𝑥 + 3
 10

Answer: 𝑦 = −1
3
𝑥 + 13
3
(perpendicular line in slope-intercept form)
Answer: 𝑓(𝑥) = −1
3
𝑥 + 13
3
(perpendicular line in function notation)
Convert to standard form: 𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵𝑦 = 𝐶
−1 13
𝑦= 3
𝑥 + 3

First, multiply the equation by 3:

−1 13
3 (𝑦 = 3
𝑥 + 3
)

3𝑦 = −𝑥 + 13
𝑥 + 3𝑦 = −𝑥 + 𝑥 + 13
𝑥 + 3𝑦 = 13
Answer: 𝑥 + 3𝑦 = 13 (perpendicular line in standard form)

Example 2: Find the perpendicular line to 4𝑥 + 5𝑦 = 8 that passes

through the point (3, 2).

Step 1: 4𝑥 + 5𝑦 = 8 is in standard form,

To put it in slope-intercept form, 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏, solve for y.

4𝑥 + 5𝑦 = 8

4𝑥 − 4𝑥 + 5𝑦 = −4𝑥 + 8

5𝑦 = −4𝑥 + 8

5𝑦 −4𝑥 + 8
=
5 5
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−4 8
𝑦= 5
𝑥 +5

−4
Now, we identify the slope: 𝑚 =
5

Step 2: the perpendicular slope: 𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟 = 54

Step 3: For the point (3, 2), 𝑥1 = 3 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦1 = 2

𝑦 − 𝑦1 = 𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟 (𝑥 − 𝑥1 )

5
𝑦 − 2 = 4(𝑥 − 3)
5 15
𝑦 − 2 = 4𝑥 − 4

We add 2 to both sides, but we change 2 to a fraction that has the same
8
denominator of 4. 2 = .
4
5 15 8
𝑦 − 2 + 2 = 4𝑥 − 4
+4
5 7
𝑦 = 4𝑥 − 4

Answer: 𝑦 = 54𝑥 − 74 (perpendicular line in slope-intercept form)

Answer: 𝑓(𝑥) = 54𝑥 − 74 (perpendicular line in function notation)
Convert to standard form: 𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵𝑦 = 𝐶
5 7
𝑦 = 4𝑥 − 4

First, multiply the equation by 4:

5 7
4 (𝑦 = 4𝑥 − 4)

4𝑦 = 5𝑥 − 7
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−5𝑥 + 4𝑦 = 5𝑥 − 5𝑥 − 7
−5𝑥 + 4𝑦 = −7
−1(−5𝑥 + 4𝑦 = −7)
5𝑥 − 4𝑦 = 7
Answer: 5𝑥 − 4𝑦 = 7 (perpendicular line in standard form)

Exercise: Find the perpendicular line to 3𝑥 + 4𝑦 = 7 that passes

through the point (4, 5). Write the answer in slope-intercept form,
function notation, and standard form.

Step 1: 3𝑥 + 4𝑦 = 7 is in standard form,

To put it in slope-intercept form, 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏, solve for y.
3𝑥 + 4𝑦 = 7

3𝑥 − 3𝑥 + 4𝑦 = −3𝑥 + 7

4𝑦 = −3𝑥 + 7

4𝑦 −3𝑥 + 7
=
4 4

−3 7
𝑦= 4
𝑥 +4

−3
Now, we identify the slope: 𝑚 =
4

Step 2: the perpendicular slope: 𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟 = 43

 13

Step 3: For the point (4, 5), 𝑥1 = 4 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦1 = 5

𝑦 − 𝑦1 = 𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟 (𝑥 − 𝑥1 )

4
𝑦 − 5 = 3(𝑥 − 4)
4 16
𝑦 − 5 = 3𝑥 − 3

We add 5 to both sides, but we change 5 to a fraction that has the same
15
denominator of 3. 5 = .
3
4 16 15
𝑦 − 5 + 5 = 3𝑥 − 3
+ 3
4 1
𝑦 = 3𝑥 − 3

Answer: 𝑦 = 43𝑥 − 13 (perpendicular line in slope-intercept form)

Answer: 𝑓(𝑥) = 43𝑥 − 13 (perpendicular line in function notation)
Convert to standard form: 𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵𝑦 = 𝐶
4 1
𝑦 = 3𝑥 − 3

First, multiply the equation by 3:

4 1
3 (𝑦 = 3𝑥 − 3)

3𝑦 = 4𝑥 − 1
−4𝑥 + 3𝑦 = 4𝑥 − 4𝑥 − 1
−4𝑥 + 3𝑦 = −1
−1(−4𝑥 + 3𝑦 = −1)
4𝑥 − 3𝑦 = 1
Answer: 4𝑥 − 3𝑦 = 1 (perpendicular line in standard form)