Write an equation for each line described. Give answers in standard form for Exercises 11–20 and in slope-intercept form (if possible) for Exercises 21–32. vertical, through (-6, 4)

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Identify the type of line described: a vertical line. Vertical lines have an undefined slope and are represented by equations of the form $x = a$, where $a$ is the x-coordinate of every point on the line.

Since the line passes through the point $(-6, 4)$, the x-coordinate for all points on this vertical line is $-6$.

Write the equation of the vertical line using the x-coordinate from the given point: $x = -6$.

Confirm that this equation is in standard form. For vertical lines, the standard form is typically written as $x = a$, which is already the case here.

No further simplification is needed, and the equation $x = -6$ fully describes the vertical line through $(-6, 4)$.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Equation of a Vertical Line

A vertical line has an undefined slope and is represented by an equation of the form x = a, where a is the x-coordinate of every point on the line. For example, a vertical line through (-6, 4) is x = -6, meaning all points have x = -6 regardless of y.

Standard Form of a Linear Equation

The standard form of a linear equation is Ax + By = C, where A, B, and C are integers, and A ≥ 0. Vertical lines can be written in this form by setting B = 0, such as x = -6 becoming 1x + 0y = -6.

Slope-Intercept Form of a Linear Equation

The slope-intercept form is y = mx + b, where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept. Vertical lines cannot be expressed in this form because their slope is undefined, so only non-vertical lines can be written as y = mx + b.

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