# What is the slope of the line passing through the following points:  ( 7,2 ) , ( 4,16 ) ?

May 22, 2018

$m = - \frac{14}{3}$

#### Explanation:

Formula for some $m$ is:

$m = \frac{{y}_{2} - {y}_{1}}{{x}_{2} - {x}_{1}}$

let's use:

1: (7,2)
2:(4,16)

it doesn't mater which you choose as 1 or 2:

$m = \frac{16 - 2}{4 - 7} = - \frac{14}{3}$

so:

$m = - \frac{14}{3}$

May 22, 2018

The slope is $- \frac{14}{3}$

#### Explanation:

Using the slope formula, you can solve the slope of a line going through any two points. The slope formula is:

$m = \frac{{y}_{2} - {y}_{1}}{{x}_{2} - {x}_{1}}$

Remember the points are in the form $\left(x , y\right)$. I'm going to call $\left(7 , 2\right)$ Point 1, so:

${x}_{1} = 7$
${y}_{1} = 2$

I'll call $\left(4 , 16\right)$ Point 2, so:

${x}_{2} = 4$
${y}_{2} = 16$

Now substitute those values into the equation:

$m = \frac{{y}_{2} - {y}_{1}}{{x}_{2} - {x}_{1}}$

$m = \frac{16 - 2}{4 - 7}$

$m = \frac{14}{-} 3$

$m = - \frac{14}{3}$

The slope of this line is $- \frac{14}{3}$.