How do I find the slope of the line which passes through the points #(0, -5)# and #(-5, 12)#?

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Answer 1 · 2018-03-02T00:10:16

The slope is #-{17}/{5}#.

The slope of a line passing through points #(x_1,y_1)# and #(x_2,y_2)# is defined as:

#m={y_2-y_1}/{x_2-x_1}#

if the #x# coordinates are not equal. The slope is not defined if the #x# coordinates are equal because that would require dividing by zero.

Here:

#(x_1,y_1)=(0,-5)#

#(x_2,y_2)=(-5,12)#

and then:

#m={y_2-y_1}/{x_2-x_1}={12-(-5)}/{-5-0}=-{17}/{5}#