You have already seen how the function definition of a linear function can be calculated if you are already known to the slope and a single point on the graph. In practice you encounter the following problem more frequently:

Given two data points \((t_0,y_0)\) and \((t_1,y_1)\) with \(t_0\neq t_1\), what is the function definition \(y(t)=a\,t+b\) for which the graph goes through these two points?

The general solution method is as follows:

The graph of the linear function \(y(t)=a\,t+b\) is a straight line.
The slope \(a\) can be calculated as the quotient of increments: \[a=\frac{{\vartriangle}y}{{\vartriangle}t}=\frac{y_1-y_0}{t_1-t_0}\] Hereafter, the intercept \(b\) can be calculated on the basis of the coordinates of one of the two data points, for example: \[b=y_0-a\cdot t_0\]

A concrete dynamic example may illustrate the method.

The graph of the linear function \(y(t)=a\,t+b\) is a straight line.
The slope \(a\) can be calculated as the quotient of increments: \[a=\frac{{\vartriangle}y}{{\vartriangle}t}=\frac{1+5}{4-1}=2\] Hereafter, the vertical intercept \(b\) can be calculated on the basis of the coordinates of one of the two measurement points, for example, on the basis of the point \((1,-5)\): \[-5=2\times 1 +b\qquad\text{that\;is}\qquad b=-5-2\times 1=-7\] The function definition is \[y(t)=2t-7\] The vertical intercept is \(f(0)=b=-7\).
The graph of this function is shown along with the two data points in the figure below.

New example