A straight line has an x-intercept at 3 and a y-intercept, help me to solve!?

Question

A straight line has an x-intercept at 3 and a y-intercept at 0. Find the equation of the line. Please give your answer in the functional form:

y = a x + b

for some constants a and b.

Answer 1

Y = aX +b

a = slope

b = y intercept (b = 0)

X intercept point = (3,0)

Y intercept = (0,0)

Slope = rise over run = (y1 – y2) / (x1 – x2)

= (0 – 0) / (3-0) = 0/3 = 0 slope

Plug that in and you get Y = 0

However, a line with a slope of 0 (zero) is a horizontal line and therefore does not have an X intercept.  Which means this problem has no solution.

In response to below, I did not say the solution was y = 0.  I said if you plug that in you get y = 0.  While y = 0 is a valid equation for a line (it is the X axis), it is not a valid solution when you consider the entire problem.  A straight horizontal line does not have an X intercept point.

Answer 2

y = a x + b

a = the slope. The slope is how much the line slants. The formula for slope = y1 - y2 / x1 - x2.

(y1 - y1 = the rise/up and down, x1 - x2 = the run/left and right.)

b = the y-intercept (which is conveniently provided for you.)

With this information, you can figure it out.