Last visit was: 18 Sep 2026, 05:31 It is currently 18 Sep 2026, 05:31
Home
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
Back to Forum
Create Topic
User avatar
Sajjad1994
User avatar
GRE Forum Moderator
Joined: 02 Nov 2016
Last visit: 16 Sep 2026
Posts: 16,425
Own Kudos:
53,772
 [5]
Given Kudos: 6,468
GPA: 3.62
Products:
Forum Quiz
Posts: 16,425
Kudos: 53,772
 [5]
In the figure to the right, if the equation of the line is y = px + a, 03 Jun 2017, 10:17
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
3
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
00:00
Start Timer
Pause Timer
Resume Timer
Show Answer
Hide
Show
History
C
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!

Difficulty:

25% (medium)

Question Stats:

73% (00:59) correct 27% (00:57) wrong based on 98 sessions

History

Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
In the figure below, if the equation of the line is y = px + a, then p =

(A) b/a
(B) −b/a
(C) −a/b
(D) a/b
(E) there is not enough information to decide

Source: Nova GMAT
Difficulty Level: 550
ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
C

Attachments

1234.jpg
1234.jpg [ 7.12 KiB | Viewed 4169 times ]

User avatar
amanvermagmat
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 22 Aug 2013
Last visit: 28 Mar 2025
Posts: 1,139
Own Kudos:
3,096
 [1]
Given Kudos: 480
Location: India
Posts: 1,139
Kudos: 3,096
 [1]
In the figure to the right, if the equation of the line is y = px + a, 03 Jun 2017, 10:58
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
When we write a line like this: y = px + a .. in that case, 'p' is the slope and 'a' is the y-intercept of this line.
Slope of any line can be calculated by taking the difference of y coordinates and dividing it by the difference of x coordinates.

We already have two points on this line given as: (0,a) and (b,0). Hence slope p = (0-a)/(b-0) = -a/b

Hence C answer
avatar
mohitkhanna.31
avatar
Joined: 29 Dec 2016
Last visit: 09 Oct 2017
Posts: 8
Own Kudos:
5
 [1]
Given Kudos: 41
Posts: 8
Kudos: 5
 [1]
In the figure to the right, if the equation of the line is y = px + a, 04 Jun 2017, 00:50
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
y=px+a
Slope of line(m) =p

m= y2-y1/x2-x1
p=0-a/(b-0)=-a/b

Answer c

Press Kudos if you like post. Need help unlocking GMAT Club test
avatar
sarugiri
avatar
Joined: 22 Oct 2016
Last visit: 30 Oct 2017
Posts: 17
Own Kudos:
21
Given Kudos: 23
Posts: 17
Kudos: 21
In the figure to the right, if the equation of the line is y = px + a, 08 Jun 2017, 05:26
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Curious to know why cant we take (b,0) as (x1,y1) and (0,a) as (x2,y2). So the formula will become
m = (y2-y1)/(x2-x1) = a/b
Is it becoz the equation is given as y=px+a we consider (x1,y1) as (0,a) and (x2,y2) as (b,0).? Just trying to clarify the basics since the wrong answer will always be present in the choices given.
User avatar
amanvermagmat
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 22 Aug 2013
Last visit: 28 Mar 2025
Posts: 1,139
Own Kudos:
3,096
Given Kudos: 480
Location: India
Posts: 1,139
Kudos: 3,096
In the figure to the right, if the equation of the line is y = px + a, 08 Jun 2017, 10:58
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
sarugiri
Curious to know why cant we take (b,0) as (x1,y1) and (0,a) as (x2,y2). So the formula will become
m = (y2-y1)/(x2-x1) = a/b
Is it becoz the equation is given as y=px+a we consider (x1,y1) as (0,a) and (x2,y2) as (b,0).? Just trying to clarify the basics since the wrong answer will always be present in the choices given.
Show more

Hi

It doesn't matter whether you take (x1,y1) as (0,a) or (b,0). Slope is going to be the same in either case.
Its upto you which point you take as (x1,y1) and which point you take as (x2,y2):
If you apply the formula of slope (y2-y1)/(x2-x1) correctly, you will get the same answer.

Let me show you:

Case 1. Lets take (0,a) as (x1,y1) and (b,0) as (x2,y2).
Then Slope = (y2-y1)/(x2-x1) = (0-a)/(b-0) = -a/b. Here the slope is -a/b

Case 2. Lets take (b,0) as (x1,y1) and (0,a) as (x2,y2).
Then Slope = (y2-y1)/(x2-x1) = (a-0)/(0-b) = -a/b. Here ALSO the slope is -a/b

Hope this helps
User avatar
TheKingInTheNorth
User avatar
Joined: 13 Mar 2013
Last visit: 03 May 2019
Posts: 132
Own Kudos:
333
Given Kudos: 25
Location: United States
Concentration: Leadership, Technology
GPA: 3.5
WE:Engineering (Telecommunications)
Posts: 132
Kudos: 333
In the figure to the right, if the equation of the line is y = px + a, 10 Jun 2017, 06:27
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Regards,

Press Kudos if you like the post .
Attachments

IMG_3521.JPG
IMG_3521.JPG [ 1.84 MiB | Viewed 3858 times ]

User avatar
JeffTargetTestPrep
User avatar
Target Test Prep Representative
Joined: 04 Mar 2011
Last visit: 05 Jan 2024
Posts: 2,973
Own Kudos:
8,973
Given Kudos: 1,646
Status:Head GMAT Instructor
Affiliations: Target Test Prep
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 2,973
Kudos: 8,973
In the figure to the right, if the equation of the line is y = px + a, 10 Jun 2017, 08:04
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
SajjadAhmad
In the figure below, if the equation of the line is y = px + a, then p =

(A) b/a
(B) −b/a
(C) −a/b
(D) a/b
(E) there is not enough information to decide
Show more

Recall that the slope-intercept form of a line is y = mx + b, where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept of the line. We are given that the equation of a line is y = px + a, so we see that the slope = p. Since points (0,a) and (b,0) are on the line, we can determine the slope, which is p.

slope = change in y/change in x

slope = (0 - a)/(b - 0) = -a/b

Answer: C
User avatar
JeffTargetTestPrep
User avatar
Target Test Prep Representative
Joined: 04 Mar 2011
Last visit: 05 Jan 2024
Posts: 2,973
Own Kudos:
8,973
Given Kudos: 1,646
Status:Head GMAT Instructor
Affiliations: Target Test Prep
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 2,973
Kudos: 8,973
In the figure to the right, if the equation of the line is y = px + a, 13 Jun 2017, 08:47
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
SajjadAhmad
In the figure below, if the equation of the line is y = px + a, then p =

(A) b/a
(B) −b/a
(C) −a/b
(D) a/b
(E) there is not enough information to decide
Show more

Recall that the slope-intercept form of a line is y = mx + b, where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept of the line. We are given that the equation of a line is y = px + a, so we see that the slope = p. Since points (0,a) and (b,0) are on the line, we can determine the slope, which is p.

slope = change in y/change in x

slope = (0 - a)/(b - 0) = -a/b

Answer: C
Moderator:
Bunuel
Math Expert
113643 posts