How do you find the slope given (a,3) and (3,a)?

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Answer 1 · 2016-09-09T17:17:13

The slope is #-1#

Slope of line passing through #(x_1,y_1)# and #(x_2,y_2)# is

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

Hence, slope of line given #(a,3)# and #(3,a)# is

#(a-3)/(3-a)#

= #(a-3)/(-(a-3)#

= #-1#

Answer 2 · 2016-09-09T17:19:53

#m = -1#

The formula for slope is #m = (y_2-y_1)/(x_2-x_1)#

#m = (3-a)/(a-3)#

Using a "switch-round" technique by dividing the numerator by a common factor of #-1# we get

#m = (-(a-3))/((a-3))#

#m = -1#