Question

Find the gradient of the line segment between the points (-2,7) and (4,3). Give your answer in its simplest form

Answer 1

m = - 2/3 or

m = - 0.66667.

I don't know which form is simpler.

Explanation:

All you want is the slope.

The slope formula is

m = (y2 - y1) / (x2 - x1)

y2 = 7

y1 = 3

x2 = - 2

x1 = 4

My choice of which one is 1 and which one is 2 is totally arbitrary. You could have made y2 = 3 and y1 = 7 and x2 = 4 and x1 = -2

m = (7 - 3) / (-2 - 4)

m = 4 / - 6

m = -2/3 or

m = - 0.6667