Question

What is the slope of the line that passes through the points (7, -9) and (15,−29)? Write your answer in simplest form.

Answer 1

Depends on which point is the starting point.

If (7, -9) is the starting point, the slope is -19/4, or -4 and 3/4.

However, if (15, -29) is the starting point, the slope is -5/2, or -2 and 1/2.

Explanation:

If (7, -9) is the starting point:

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

`= (-29 - 9)/(15 - 7)`

`= (-38)/(8)`

`= -(19)/(4)`

The slope of the line is -19/4, or -4 and 3/4.

If (15, -29) is the starting point:

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

`= (9 - (-29))/(7 - 15)`

`= (20)/(-8)`

`= -(5)/(2)`

The slope of the line is -5/2, or -2 and 1/2.

Hope this helped!