What is the slope of a line defined by the equation 3x + y = -4?

1 Answer
Jun 3, 2016

slope=-3

Explanation:

Recall that the slope of a line can be determined when its equation is in slope-intercept form:

color(blue)(|bar(ul(color(white)(a/a)y=mx+bcolor(white)(a/a)|)))

where:
y=y-coordinate
m=slope
x=x-coordinate
b=y-intercept

In your case, you are looking for m.

Given,

3x+y=-4

Solve for y. Subtract 3x from both sides.

3xcolor(white)(i)color(red)(-3x)+y=color(red)(-3x)-4

Simplifying,

y=color(darkorange)(-3)x-4

Referring back to the general equation of a line, the slope, m, would be color(darkorange)(-3).