Question

How do you find the slope of the line through `(-1, -8)` and `(-3, 9)`?

Answer 1

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)(9) - color(blue)(-8))/(color(red)(-3) - color(blue)(-1)) = (color(red)(9) + color(blue)(8))/(color(red)(-3) + color(blue)(1)) = 17/-2 = -17/2`