Question

What is the slope of the line that passes through the points (-8,-6) and (-8, 4)?

Write your answer in simplest form.

Answer 1

Slope is undefined

Explanation:

To find the slope, subtract the y's and put that on top of a fraction. Then subtract the x's and put that on the bottom of the fraction.

This works all the time for any two points.

Here, though, we find the top

4 - -6

= 4 + 6

= 10

10 would go on top.

But then, on the bottom we get

-8 - -8

= 0

We get zero. As you know, you CANNOT have zero on the bottom of a fraction.

For the slope calculation we get 10/0

The slope is undefined.

Also, if you graph these two points, it's a verticsl line. Vertical lines (up and down) have an undefined slope.