Question

What is the slope of the line that passes through the points (-3, 1) and (1, -5)

Answer 1

Answer:

How do you find the slope of a line that passes through two points?

Step-by-step explanation:

Use the slope formula to find the slope of a line given the coordinates of two points on the line. The slope formula is m=(y2-y1)/(x2-x1), or the change in the y values over the change in the x values.

Answer 2

Answer:

$\boxed {\boxed {\sf C. \ - \frac {3}{2}}}$

Step-by-step explanation:

We are asked to find the slope of the line.

Slope is a number that tells us the steepness and direction of a line. It is the change in y over the change in x.

$m= \frac{y_2-y_1}{x_2-x_1}$

In this formula, (x₁, y₁) and (x₂, y₂) are the points the line passes through.

We are given the points (-3, 1) and (1, -5). If we match the value with its corresponding variable, we see that:

• x₁ = -3
• y₁ = 1
• x₂ = 1
• y₂ = -5

Substitute the values into the formula.

$m= \frac{-5 -1}{1 - -3}$

Solve the numerator.

• -5-1= -6

$m= \frac{ -6}{1--3}$

Solve the denominator. Two back-to-back negative signs become a positive sign.

• 1 - -3 = 1+3 =4

$m=\frac{-6}{4}$

Simplify the fraction. Both the numerator and denominator can be divided by 2.

$m= \frac{-6/2}{4/2}$

$m= -\frac{3}{2}$

The slope of the line is -3/2, so the correct choice is C.