# Lesson 11: Writing Equations for Lines

Let’s explore the relationship between points on a line and the slope of the line.

## 11.1: Coordinates and Lengths in the Coordinate Plane

Find each of the following and explain your reasoning:

1. The length of segment $BE$.
2. The coordinates of $E$.

## 11.2: What We Mean by an Equation of a Line

Line $j$ is shown in the coordinate plane.

1. What are the coordinates of $B$ and $D$?
2. Is point $(20,15)$ on line $j$? Explain how you know.

3. Is point $(100,75)$ on line $j$? Explain how you know.

4. Is point $(90,68)$ on line $j$? Explain how you know.

5. Suppose you know the $x$- and $y$-coordinates of a point. Write a rule that would allow you to test whether the point is on line $j$.

## 11.3: Writing Relationships from Slope Triangles

Here are two diagrams:

1. Complete each diagram so that all vertical and horizontal segments have expressions for their lengths.
2. Use what you know about similar triangles to find an equation for the quotient of the vertical and horizontal side lengths of $\triangle DFE$ in each diagram.

## Summary

Here are the points $A$, $C$, and $E$ on the same line. Triangles $ABC$ and $ADE$ are slope triangles for the line so we know they are similar triangles. Let’s use their similarity to better understand the relationship between $x$ and $y$, which make up the coordinates of point $E$.

The slope for triangle $ABC$ is $\frac{2}{1}$ since the vertical side has length 2 and the horizontal side has length 1. The slope we find for triangle $ADE$ is $\frac{y}{x}$ because the vertical side has length $y$ and the horizontal side has length $x$. These two slopes must be equal since they are from slope triangles for the same line, and so: $$\frac{2}{1} = \frac{y}{x}$$

Since $\frac{2}{1} = 2$ this means that the value of $y$ is twice the value of $x$, or that $y= 2x$. This equation is true for any point $(x,y)$ on the line!

Here are two different slope triangles. We can use the same reasoning to describe the relationship between $x$ and $y$ for this point $E$.

The slope for triangle $ABC$ is $\frac{2}{1}$ since the vertical side has length 2 and the horizontal side has length 1. For triangle $ADE$, the horizontal side has length $x$. The vertical side has length $y-1$ because the distance from $(x,y)$ to the $x$-axis is $y$ but the vertical side of the triangle stops 1 unit short of the $x$-axis. So the slope we find for triangle $ADE$ is $\frac{y-1}{x}$. The slopes for the two slope triangles are equal, meaning: $$\frac{2}{1} = \frac{y-1}{x}$$

Since $y-1$ is twice $x$, another way to write this equation is $y-1 = 2x$. This equation is true for any point $(x,y)$ on the line!