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Amy Ferguson Moncure

Algebra 1 · Unit 2

Convert to Different Linear Equations

Rewrite a line as y = mx + b or as Ax + By = C.

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What to Remember

To y = mx + b

From standard form, move the x term, then divide by the coefficient of y. From point-slope form, distribute, then move the constant.

To Ax + By = C

Move the x term so x and y are on the same side. If a fraction is left, multiply by a common denominator.

A positive

If A is negative, multiply both sides by −1. A becomes positive, and every other sign flips.

Easy 1

Convert to y = mx + b (standard form)

Start with Ax + By = C.

Example
Write 2x − 4y = 12 in slope-intercept form.

2x − 4y = 12

−4y = −2x + 12

Divide by −4.

y = 12x − 3

Answer: y = 12x − 3

1
Write x + y = 9 in slope-intercept form.
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x + y = 9

y = −x + 9

Answer: y = −x + 9

2
Write 3x + y = 12 in slope-intercept form.
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3x + y = 12

y = −3x + 12

Answer: y = −3x + 12

3
Write −2x + y = 4 in slope-intercept form.
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−2x + y = 4

y = 2x + 4

Answer: y = 2x + 4

4
Write 4x − 2y = 10 in slope-intercept form.
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4x − 2y = 10

−2y = −4x + 10

Divide by −2.

y = 2x − 5

Answer: y = 2x − 5

5
Write 2x + 4y = 8 in slope-intercept form.
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2x + 4y = 8

4y = −2x + 8

Divide by 4.

y = −12x + 2

Answer: y = −12x + 2

Easy 2

Convert to y = mx + b (point-slope form)

Distribute, then solve for y.

Example
Write y − 2 = 3(x − 1) in slope-intercept form.

y − 2 = 3(x − 1)

Distribute.

y − 2 = 3x − 3

Add 2 to both sides.

y = 3x − 1

Answer: y = 3x − 1

1
Write y − 4 = 2(x + 3) in slope-intercept form.
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y − 4 = 2(x + 3)

Distribute.

y − 4 = 2x + 6

Add 4 to both sides.

y = 2x + 10

Answer: y = 2x + 10

2
Write y + 1 = −5(x − 2) in slope-intercept form.
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y + 1 = −5(x − 2)

Distribute.

y + 1 = −5x + 10

Subtract 1 from both sides.

y = −5x + 9

Answer: y = −5x + 9

3
Write y − 6 = 12(x − 4) in slope-intercept form.
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y − 6 = 12(x − 4)

Distribute.

y − 6 = 12x − 2

Add 6 to both sides.

y = 12x + 4

Answer: y = 12x + 4

4
Write y + 3 = −23(x − 6) in slope-intercept form.
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y + 3 = −23(x − 6)

Distribute.

y + 3 = −23x + 4

Subtract 3 from both sides.

y = −23x + 1

Answer: y = −23x + 1

5
Write y − 8 = 4(x + 1) in slope-intercept form.
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y − 8 = 4(x + 1)

Distribute.

y − 8 = 4x + 4

Add 8 to both sides.

y = 4x + 12

Answer: y = 4x + 12

What standard form is

Standard form of a line is Ax + By = C.

A is the number in front of x. B is the number in front of y. C is the number by itself.

The rules

  • A, B, and C are integers. No fractions and no decimals.
  • A is positive. If A is negative, multiply both sides by −1. Every sign flips.
  • The only common factor of A, B, and C is 1.

Move the x term so x and y are on the same side. If a fraction is left, multiply by a common denominator.

Medium 4 stops when the fractions are gone. On that set, A can stay negative.

Medium 1

Convert to Ax + By = C (one step)

Move the x term. The slope is a negative integer.

Example
Write y = −2x + 5 in standard form.

y = −2x + 5

Add 2x to both sides.

2x + y = 5

Answer: 2x + y = 5

1
Write y = −3x + 1 in standard form.
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y = −3x + 1

Add 3x to both sides.

3x + y = 1

Answer: 3x + y = 1

2
Write y = −x + 8 in standard form.
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y = −x + 8

Add x to both sides.

x + y = 8

Answer: x + y = 8

3
Write y = −5x − 2 in standard form.
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y = −5x − 2

Add 5x to both sides.

5x + y = −2

Answer: 5x + y = −2

4
Write y = −4x + 7 in standard form.
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y = −4x + 7

Add 4x to both sides.

4x + y = 7

Answer: 4x + y = 7

5
Write y = −6x in standard form.
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y = −6x

Add 6x to both sides.

6x + y = 0

Answer: 6x + y = 0

Medium 2

Convert to Ax + By = C (two steps)

Move the x term, then multiply by the denominator.

Example
Write y = −35x + 8 in standard form.

y = −35x + 8

Add 35x to both sides.

35x + y = 8

Multiply by 5.

3x + 5y = 40

Answer: 3x + 5y = 40

1
Write y = −23x + 4 in standard form.
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y = −23x + 4

Add 23x to both sides.

23x + y = 4

Multiply by 3.

2x + 3y = 12

Answer: 2x + 3y = 12

2
Write y = −14x + 6 in standard form.
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y = −14x + 6

Add 14x to both sides.

14x + y = 6

Multiply by 4.

x + 4y = 24

Answer: x + 4y = 24

3
Write y = −32x + 5 in standard form.
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y = −32x + 5

Add 32x to both sides.

32x + y = 5

Multiply by 2.

3x + 2y = 10

Answer: 3x + 2y = 10

4
Write y = −45x − 1 in standard form.
Show Answer

y = −45x − 1

Add 45x to both sides.

45x + y = −1

Multiply by 5.

4x + 5y = −5

Answer: 4x + 5y = −5

5
Write y = −16x + 3 in standard form.
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y = −16x + 3

Add 16x to both sides.

16x + y = 3

Multiply by 6.

x + 6y = 18

Answer: x + 6y = 18

Medium 3

Convert to Ax + By = C (A must be positive)

Clear the fraction, then multiply by −1 if A is negative.

Example
Write y = 23x + 7 in standard form. A must be positive.

y = 23x + 7

Subtract 23x from both sides.

−23x + y = 7

Multiply by 3.

−2x + 3y = 21

A is negative. Multiply by −1.

2x − 3y = −21

Answer: 2x − 3y = −21

1
Write y = 12x + 5 in standard form. A must be positive.
Show Answer

y = 12x + 5

Subtract 12x from both sides.

−12x + y = 5

Multiply by 2.

−x + 2y = 10

A is negative. Multiply by −1.

x − 2y = −10

Answer: x − 2y = −10

2
Write y = 34x − 2 in standard form. A must be positive.
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y = 34x − 2

Subtract 34x from both sides.

−34x + y = −2

Multiply by 4.

−3x + 4y = −8

A is negative. Multiply by −1.

3x − 4y = 8

Answer: 3x − 4y = 8

3
Write y = 25x + 1 in standard form. A must be positive.
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y = 25x + 1

Subtract 25x from both sides.

−25x + y = 1

Multiply by 5.

−2x + 5y = 5

A is negative. Multiply by −1.

2x − 5y = −5

Answer: 2x − 5y = −5

4
Write y = 13x + 4 in standard form. A must be positive.
Show Answer

y = 13x + 4

Subtract 13x from both sides.

−13x + y = 4

Multiply by 3.

−x + 3y = 12

A is negative. Multiply by −1.

x − 3y = −12

Answer: x − 3y = −12

5
Write y = 52x + 3 in standard form. A must be positive.
Show Answer

y = 52x + 3

Subtract 52x from both sides.

−52x + y = 3

Multiply by 2.

−5x + 2y = 6

A is negative. Multiply by −1.

5x − 2y = −6

Answer: 5x − 2y = −6

Medium 4

Convert to Ax + By = C (no fractions)

The slope and the y-intercept are both fractions. Multiply by a common denominator.

Example
Write y = 14x + 23 in standard form with no fractions.

y = 14x + 23

Subtract 14x from both sides.

−14x + y = 23

Multiply by 12.

12 · (−14x) = −3x

12 · y = 12y

12 · (23) = 8

−3x + 12y = 8

Answer: −3x + 12y = 8

1
Write y = 12x + 13 in standard form with no fractions.
Show Answer

y = 12x + 13

Subtract 12x from both sides.

−12x + y = 13

Multiply by 6.

6 · (−12x) = −3x

6 · y = 6y

6 · (13) = 2

−3x + 6y = 2

Answer: −3x + 6y = 2

2
Write y = 23x + 12 in standard form with no fractions.
Show Answer

y = 23x + 12

Subtract 23x from both sides.

−23x + y = 12

Multiply by 6.

6 · (−23x) = −4x

6 · y = 6y

6 · (12) = 3

−4x + 6y = 3

Answer: −4x + 6y = 3

3
Write y = 15x + 34 in standard form with no fractions.
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y = 15x + 34

Subtract 15x from both sides.

−15x + y = 34

Multiply by 20.

20 · (−15x) = −4x

20 · y = 20y

20 · (34) = 15

−4x + 20y = 15

Answer: −4x + 20y = 15

4
Write y = 34x − 16 in standard form with no fractions.
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y = 34x − 16

Subtract 34x from both sides.

−34x + y = −16

Multiply by 12.

12 · (−34x) = −9x

12 · y = 12y

12 · (−16) = −2

−9x + 12y = −2

Answer: −9x + 12y = −2

5
Write y = 16x + 25 in standard form with no fractions.
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y = 16x + 25

Subtract 16x from both sides.

−16x + y = 25

Multiply by 30.

30 · (−16x) = −5x

30 · y = 30y

30 · (25) = 12

−5x + 30y = 12

Answer: −5x + 30y = 12

Hard 1

Convert to Ax + By = C (from point-slope)

Distribute, then write standard form with A positive and no fractions.

Example
Write y − 3 = 2(x + 1) in standard form.

y − 3 = 2(x + 1)

Distribute.

y − 3 = 2x + 2

Add 3 to both sides.

y = 2x + 5

Subtract 2x from both sides.

−2x + y = 5

A is negative. Multiply by −1.

2x − y = −5

Answer: 2x − y = −5

1
Write y − 1 = 3(x − 2) in standard form.
Show Answer

y − 1 = 3(x − 2)

Distribute.

y − 1 = 3x − 6

Add 1 to both sides.

y = 3x − 5

Subtract 3x from both sides.

−3x + y = −5

A is negative. Multiply by −1.

3x − y = 5

Answer: 3x − y = 5

2
Write y + 2 = −4(x − 1) in standard form.
Show Answer

y + 2 = −4(x − 1)

Distribute.

y + 2 = −4x + 4

Subtract 2 from both sides.

y = −4x + 2

Add 4x to both sides.

4x + y = 2

Answer: 4x + y = 2

3
Write y − 5 = 12(x − 4) in standard form.
Show Answer

y − 5 = 12(x − 4)

Distribute.

y − 5 = 12x − 2

Add 5 to both sides.

y = 12x + 3

Subtract 12x from both sides.

−12x + y = 3

Multiply by 2.

−x + 2y = 6

A is negative. Multiply by −1.

x − 2y = −6

Answer: x − 2y = −6

4
Write y − 6 = −23(x + 3) in standard form.
Show Answer

y − 6 = −23(x + 3)

Distribute.

y − 6 = −23x − 2

Add 6 to both sides.

y = −23x + 4

Add 23x to both sides.

23x + y = 4

Multiply by 3.

2x + 3y = 12

Answer: 2x + 3y = 12

5
Write y + 1 = 5(x − 2) in standard form.
Show Answer

y + 1 = 5(x − 2)

Distribute.

y + 1 = 5x − 10

Subtract 1 from both sides.

y = 5x − 11

Subtract 5x from both sides.

−5x + y = −11

A is negative. Multiply by −1.

5x − y = 11

Answer: 5x − y = 11

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