Question

a straight line cuts off on the axes of coordinates posotive interceots whose sum is 5. Given that line passes through (-4,9) Find the equation

Answer 1

the equation of a straight line in intercept form is
$\frac{x}{a} + \frac{y}{b} = 1$
where a and b are x and y intercepts respectively.
given a+ b= 5
also the line passes through (-4,9) hence,
$\frac{ - 4}{a} + \frac{9}{b} = 1$
solving above two equations for a and b,
a = -10 or 2 and
b = 15 or 3