Question

What is the slope of the line described by the equation below?
Y - 5= -3(x - 17)

Answer 1

Hello there!

To find the slope, we must first put this equation in y = mx + b form (also known as slope intercept form)

First, let's solve the right side using the distributive property.

To do this, we will multiply -3 by both x and -17

-3 * x = -3x

-3 * -17 = 51 (a negative times a negative equals a positive)

So, now we have: y - 5 = -3x + 51


Now we must get rid of the -5 on the right side.

To do this, we will add -5 to both sides

y - 5 + 5 = -3x + 51 + 5

Now we have y = -3x + 56

Now, we know the slope is -3

I hope my answer helped you out!

~ Fire

Answer 2

First distribute -3 to both x and -17
-3(x) = -3x
-3(-17) = 51

y - 5 = -3x + 51

isolate the y, add 5 to both sides

y - 5 (+5) = -3x + 51 (+5)

add all numbers with same variables together

y = -3x + 51 + 5
y = -3x + 56

inside the slope intercept form:

y = y
m = slope
x = x
b = intercept.

y = mx + b (using this equation, we can see that -3 = m)

-3 is slope, and is your answer

hope this helps