How do you find the slope given (9,3) and (4,2)?

2 Answers
May 15, 2018

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

The formula for find the slope of a line is:

m = (color(red)(y_2) - color(blue)(y_1))/(color(red)(x_2) - color(blue)(x_1))

Where (color(blue)(x_1), color(blue)(y_1)) and (color(red)(x_2), color(red)(y_2)) are two points on the line.

Substituting the values from the points in the problem gives:

m = (color(red)(2) - color(blue)(3))/(color(red)(4) - color(blue)(9)) = (-1)/-5 = 1/5

May 15, 2018

m = 1/5

Explanation:

When given two points, use this equation to find the slope:

(Y_2 - Y_1)/(X_2 - X_1) = m, the slope

Your ordered pairs will be labeled as the y's and x's in order to plug it into this equation. Let's label them:

(9, 3) (X_1, Y_1)
(4, 2) (X_2, Y_2)

Now, plug your variables into the equation. Use what you've labeled as a reference.

(2 - 3)/(4 - 9) = m

Subtract and simplify.

(-1)/(-5) = m

Because two negatives create a positive, the slope becomes 1/5.
Therefore, m = 1/5.