You are asked to find the equation of a line parallel to y = (-1/3)x + 2 that passes through the point (-5,1). Note that if two lines are parallel, their slopes are the same. Thus, we could write the equation of the new line as y = (-1/3)x + b, as both have the slope -1/3 (but different y-intercepts). Now subst. the coordinates -5 and 1 for x and y respectively, to find b: 1 = (-1/3)(-5) + b, or 1 = 5/3 + b.
Then b = -2/3, and the equation of the new line is y = (-1/3)x - 2/3.
