What is the slope of the straight line through points #(2,8)# and #(4,6)#?

2 Answers
Aug 12, 2018

Slope of the st. Line #color(magenta)(m = -1#

Explanation:

Slope is given by #m = (y_2 - y_1)/(x_2-x_1)#

Given : #(x_1,y_1) = (2,8), (x_2,y_2)=(4,6)#

#:. #Slope #m = (6-8) / (4-2) = (-2)/(2) = -1#

Aug 12, 2018

Slope #-1#

Explanation:

Recall that slope is given by #(Deltay)/(Deltax)#, where the Greek letter Delta (#Delta#) is shorthand for "change in".

We simply just find out how much our #y# changes by, and divide it by how much our #x# changes by.

#x# goes from #2# to #4#, so we can say #Deltax=2#.

#y# goes from #8# to #6#, so we can say our #Deltay=-2#.

To find the slope, we can divide these numbers to get

#m=-1#

Hope this helps!