Question

How do you find the slope of the line `x-4y=8`?

Answer 1

Slope of (`x-4y = 8`) is `1/4`

Explanation:

Method 1
By inspection:
`color(white)("XXXX")`For each `1` that `x` increases `y` must increase by `1/4` for the left side to remain a constant value.

Method 2
Convert to "slope-intercept form"
`color(white)("XXXX")`General slope-intercept form is:
`color(white)("XXXXXXXX")` `y=mx+b`
`color(white)("XXXXXXXXXXXX")`with slope `m` and y-intercept `b`

`color(white)("XXXX")` `x-4y=8`
`color(white)("XXXX")` `rArr -4y = -x+8`
`color(white)("XXXX")` `rArr y = x/4 -2 = 1/4x-2`

Method 3
Given a linear equation in standard form:
`color(white)("XXXX")` `Ax+By = C`
the slope is given by the formula:
`color(white)("XXXX")` `m = -A/B`