How do you determine the slope of the line passing through (2, –5) and (–1, –1)?

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Answer 1 · 2015-06-19T18:30:33

slope = (change in #y#) / (change in #x#) #= -4/3#

If a line passes through #(x_1, y_1)# and #(x_2, y_2)# then it's slope is given by the formula:

slope #m = (Delta y)/(Delta x) = (y_2 - y_1)/(x_2 - x_1)#

In our example,

#(x_1, y_1) = (2, -5)# and #(x_2, y_2) = (-1, -1)#

so

#m = (y_2 - y_1)/(x_2 - x_1)#

#= (-1 - (-5))/(-1 - 2) = 4/(-3) = -4/3#