How do you find the slope given the points #(7,5 )# and #(-1, 1/5)#?

1 Answer
Feb 4, 2016

Use the slope formula: #m=(y_2-y_1)/(x_2-x_1) = (1/5-5)/(-1-7) = 3/5.#

Explanation:

There is a formula for the slope of a straight line, given two points #(x_1,y_1)# and #(x_2,y_2)# on the line:

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

It doesn't actually matter which points we choose as points 1 and 2, because the formula will give the correct answer either way.

I've calculated the answer above using this formula.