Question

What is the slope of the line that contains the points (-1,8 ) and 5,-4

Answer 1

Use rise over run:

(-4 - 8)/(5 - -1) = -2.

The slope is -2.

Answer 2

To solve this problem, we need to remember the formula for slope, represented by the variable m, where m = y2-y1/x2-x1. These x and y values come from the ordered pairs that we are given, which are in the format (x,y). To solve, we simply plug in the values from the ordered pairs into the formula and simplify from there.

m = (8 - (-4))/(-1 - 5)

To simplify the numerator, we can change the double negative (minus a negative number) to addition of a positive number because two negatives equal a positive. This gives us:

(8 + 4) / (-1 - 5)

Now, we can add the two numbers in the numerator and subtract the two numbers in the denominator to simplify.

12/-6

Finally, we can divide these two numbers, keeping in mind that our final answer should be negative because the numerator is positive and the denominator is negative.

-2

Therefore, the slope of the line is -2.

Hope this helps!