AlgebraVery hardSum of the intercepts of a line
Algebra practice question
In the xy-plane, a line with slope −2 passes through the point (3, 4) and crosses the axes at (a, 0) and (0, b). What is the value of a + b?
Answer: 15
y = −2x + b with 4 = −6 + b gives b = 10, and 0 = −2a + 10 gives a = 5. So a + b = 15.
Common wrong answers
- If you answered 5
- 5 is a alone.
- If you answered 10
- 10 is b alone.
- If you answered -5
- −5 is a − b.
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