Question

(-3,4) and (4,1). Find the slope of the line
your answer.

Answer 1

The slope of this line is -(7/3) or -2.33 as a decimal.

Explanation:

The formula to find slope is:

Slope = rise / run = (x₂ - x₁) / (y₂ - y₁)

rise: how much y changes between 2 points

run: how much x changes between the same 2 points

The reason why we put those little numbers next to x and y in the formula, is to represent point 1 and point 2.

When given two points, it doesn't matter which one is point 1 or 2, all that matters is that once you choose, you stick to it for both x and y.

So lets label the two points:

point 1 is (-3,4)

• so x₁ is -3, and y₁ is 4

point 2 is (4,1)

• so x₂ is 4, and y₂ is 1

(remember, I chose this randomly, it doesn't matter which one is point 1 or 2)

So, now let's plug all the numbers in the formula for slope. (so put -3 where x₁ is, put 4 where y₁ is....)

Slope = (x₂ - x₁) / (y₂ - y₁) = (4 - (-3)) / (1 - 4)

now simplify

(4 - (-3)) / (1 - 4) = 7 / -3