Question

What is the slope of the line that passes through the points (-4, -9) and (5, 3)

Answer 1

Answer:

4/3

Step-by-step explanation:

Moving from (-4, -9) to (5, 3), x (the 'run') increases by 9 from -4 to 5, and y (the 'rise') increases by 12 from -9 to +3.  Thus, the slope of the line connecting the two points is

m = rise / run = 12/9 = 4/3

It may help to think of the change in x (9) as the horizontal leg of a right triangle and the change in y (12) as the vertical leg.  Then  

m = (vertical leg length) / (horizontal leg length) = 12/9 = 4/3