How do you find the slope of the line that passes through (1/2, -1/3), (1/4, 2/3)?

1 Answer
Jun 18, 2017

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

The slope can be found by using the formula: #m = (color(red)(y_2) - color(blue)(y_1))/(color(red)(x_2) - color(blue)(x_1))#

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

Substituting the values from the points in the problem gives:

#m = (color(red)(2/3) - color(blue)(-1/3))/(color(red)(1/4) - color(blue)(1/2)) = (color(red)(2/3) + color(blue)(1/3))/(color(red)(1/4) - color(blue)(2/4)) => (3/3)/(-1/4) = (1/1)/(-1/4) = (1 xx -4)/(1 xx 1)#

#m = -4/1 = -4#