if f(x) = ax + b and f(2) = f(4) then a = ?

i cant seem to figure out if i plug in 2 or 4 into the eq.

i no the answer is 0 but how do i strt?

f(2) = f(4) --->

2 a + b - 4 a + b --->

2 a = 4 a --->

(4 - 2) a = 0 --->

2 a = 0 ---->

a = 0

To find the value of "a" in the equation f(x) = ax + b, you are given that f(2) = f(4). To solve for "a," you need to substitute the values of x into the equation.

Start by plugging in the value x = 2 into the equation f(x) = ax + b. This gives you:

f(2) = a(2) + b

Do the same for x = 4:

f(4) = a(4) + b

Since f(2) = f(4), we can equate the two equations:

a(2) + b = a(4) + b

Now you can simplify the equation by canceling out the "b" terms:

2a = 4a

Subtracting 2a from both sides of the equation gives:

0 = 2a

Finally, divide both sides of the equation by 2 to solve for "a":

a = 0

Therefore, the value of "a" in the equation f(x) = ax + b is 0.