How to find out if a point is on a line with an equation

Help Questions

GRE Quantitative Reasoning › How to find out if a point is on a line with an equation

Questions 1 - 10
1

Consider the lines described by the following two equations:

4y = 3x2

3y = 4x2

Find the vertical distance between the two lines at the points where x = 6.

36

21

12

44

48

Explanation

Since the vertical coordinates of each point are given by y, solve each equation for y and plug in 6 for x, as follows:

Taking the difference of the resulting y -values give the vertical distance between the points (6,27) and (6,48), which is 21.

2

Which of the following set of points is on the line formed by the equation ?

Explanation

The easy way to solve this question is to take each set of points and put it into the equation. When we do this, we find the only time the equation balances is when we use the points .

For practice, try graphing the line to see which of the points fall on it.

3

Determine the greater quantity:

or

Capture9

The quantities are equal.

The relationship cannot be determined.

Explanation

\dpi{100} \small BD+AC is the length of the line, except that \dpi{100} \small BC is double counted. By subtracting \dpi{100} \small BC, we get the length of the line, or \dpi{100} \small AD.

4

On a coordinate plane, two lines are represented by the equations and . These two lines intersect at point . What are the coordinates of point ?

Explanation

You can solve for the within these two equations by eliminating the . By doing this, you get .

Solve for to get and plug back into either equation to get the value of as 1.

5

Which of the following points can be found on the line \small y=3x+2?

Explanation

We are looking for an ordered pair that makes the given equation true. To solve, plug in the various answer choices to find the true equality.

Because this equality is true, we can conclude that the point lies on this line. None of the other given answer options will result in a true equality.

6

Solve the following system of equations:

–2x + 3y = 10

2x + 5y = 6

(2, 2)

(3, –2)

(–2, –2)

(3, 5)

(–2, 2)

Explanation

Since we have –2x and +2x in the equations, it makes sense to add the equations together to give 8y = 16 yielding y = 2. Then we substitute y = 2 into one of the original equations to get x = –2. So the solution to the system of equations is (–2, 2)

7

Find the point where the line y = .25(x – 20) + 12 crosses the x-axis.

(–28,0)

(0,–28)

(0,0)

(–7,0)

(12,0)

Explanation

When the line crosses the x-axis, the y-coordinate is 0. Substitute 0 into the equation for y and solve for x.

.25(x – 20) + 12 = 0

.25_x_ – 5 = –12

.25_x_ = –7

x = –28

The answer is the point (–28,0).

8

If the two lines represented by and intersect at point , what are the coordinates of point ?

Explanation

Solve for by setting the two equations equal to one another:

Plugging back into either equation gives .

These are the coordinates for the intersection of the two lines.

9

For the line

Which one of these coordinates can be found on the line?

(3, _–_6)

(3, 7)

(6, _–_12)

(6, 5)

(9, 5)

Explanation

To test the coordinates, plug the x-coordinate into the line equation and solve for y.

y = 1/3x -7

Test (3,-6)

y = 1/3(3) – 7 = 1 – 7 = -6 YES!

Test (3,7)

y = 1/3(3) – 7 = 1 – 7 = -6 NO

Test (6,-12)

y = 1/3(6) – 7 = 2 – 7 = -5 NO

Test (6,5)

y = 1/3(6) – 7 = 2 – 7 = -5 NO

Test (9,5)

y = 1/3(9) – 7 = 3 – 7 = -4 NO

10

Which of the following sets of coordinates are on the line y=3x-4?

(2,2)

(2,-2)

(1,5)

(3,4)

(1,2)

Explanation

(2,2) when plugged in for y and x make the linear equation true, therefore those coordinates fall on that line.

y=3x-4

Because this equation is true, the point must lie on the line. The other given answer choices do not result in true equalities.

Return to subject