Tim found a tool in his father's toolbox and was curious is used for

b

step-by-step explanation:

the equation of a line in point- slope form is

y - b = m(x - a)

where m is the slope and (a, b) a point on the line

calculate m using the slope formula

m = (y₂ - y₁ ) / (x₂ - x₁ )

with (x₁, y₁ ) = (0, 4) and (x₂, y₂ ) = (3, - 5) ← 2 points on the line

m = = = - 3

with m = - 3 and (a, b) = (3, - 5), then

y - (- 5) = - 3(x - 3), that is

y + 5 = - 3(x - 3) → b

take the logarithm of both sides (the base of the log doesn't matter):

apply the exponent property - this says that :

distribute the log terms on both sides:

group like terms together:

divide through both sides by the coefficient on :

you can do some additional rewriting here using the properties of the logarithm to simplify things if you like: