Final answer:
The slope (z) of a line parallel to another is computed using the change in y over the change in x. For points (-3,5) and (7,n), it's (n - 5) / 10, which matches option (a).
Step-by-step explanation:
The slope (z) of a line parallel to the line containing the points (-3,5) and (7,n) can be determined using the slope formula, which is the change in y divided by the change in x between two points on the line. So in this case, to find the slope z, you would subtract the y-coordinate of the first point from the y-coordinate of the second point (n - 5) and divide by the x-coordinate of the second point minus the x-coordinate of the first point (7 - (-3)), which is (7 + 3) or 10. Therefore, the slope z as a function of n is z = (n - 5) / 10, which corresponds to option (a).