Write the equation of a vertical line that goes through the point (5, -1).
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for the equation of a vertical line that passes through the point (5, -1). A vertical line has the form x = a constant, where the constant is the x-coordinate of the point through which the line passes.
Answer
The equation of the vertical line is $x = 5$.
Answer for screen readers
The equation of the vertical line is $x = 5$.
Steps to Solve
- Identify the x-coordinate of the point
The point given is (5, -1). The x-coordinate is 5.
- Write the equation of the vertical line
The equation of a vertical line that passes through a point is expressed as $x = a$, where $a$ is the x-coordinate of the point.
- Substitute the x-coordinate
Substituting the x-coordinate from the point into the equation gives:
$$ x = 5 $$
The equation of the vertical line is $x = 5$.
More Information
Vertical lines have equations in the form $x = c$, where $c$ is the constant x-coordinate. In this case, since the line passes through the point (5, -1), the equation is simply $x = 5$.
Tips
- Confusing the equation of a vertical line with that of a horizontal line, which is of the form $y = c$.
- Forgetting that the y-coordinate does not affect the equation of a vertical line.
