SOLUTION: find the slope of the line through the given points, if the slope is ubdefined, please state (4,1) and (1,4) (-3,-5) and -1,-2) (-7,-5) and (5, -6)

Algebra ->  Algebra  -> Graphs -> SOLUTION: find the slope of the line through the given points, if the slope is ubdefined, please state (4,1) and (1,4) (-3,-5) and -1,-2) (-7,-5) and (5, -6)      Log On

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Question 74744: find the slope of the line through the given points, if the slope is ubdefined, please state
(4,1) and (1,4)
(-3,-5) and -1,-2)
(-7,-5) and (5, -6)
Answer by jim_thompson5910(21667) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
For the 2 points: (4,1) and (1,4)
Solved by pluggable solver: Finding the slope
To find the slope going from (4,1) to (1,4) we are going to calculate the change in y over the change in x, or the rise over the run. The change is the difference between the two coordinates. So if the y-coordinate of a point goes from 1 to 4, the change in these numbers is 3 (since 4-1=3). If the x-coordinate changes from 4 to 1, then the change is -3 (since 1-4=-3). So to calculate the slope we use this formula:
Slope:

m=%28change_in_y%29%2F%28change_in_x%29=rise%2Frun where m is the slope

So now we let y%5B2%5D=4,y%5B1%5D=1,x%5B2%5D=1,x%5B1%5D=4Now plug these numbers into the slope formula:

m=%28y%5B2%5D-y%5B1%5D%29%2F%28x%5B2%5D-x%5B1%5D%29=%284-%281%29%29%2F%281-%284%29%29+=+3%2F-3


So after simplification the slope is m=-1

So the slope is m=-1



For the 2 points: (-3,-5) and (-1,-2)
Solved by pluggable solver: Finding the slope
To find the slope going from (-3,-5) to (-1,-2) we are going to calculate the change in y over the change in x, or the rise over the run. The change is the difference between the two coordinates. So if the y-coordinate of a point goes from -5 to -2, the change in these numbers is 3 (since -2--5=3). If the x-coordinate changes from -3 to -1, then the change is 2 (since -1--3=2). So to calculate the slope we use this formula:
Slope:

m=%28change_in_y%29%2F%28change_in_x%29=rise%2Frun where m is the slope

So now we let y%5B2%5D=-2,y%5B1%5D=-5,x%5B2%5D=-1,x%5B1%5D=-3Now plug these numbers into the slope formula:

m=%28y%5B2%5D-y%5B1%5D%29%2F%28x%5B2%5D-x%5B1%5D%29=%28-2-%28-5%29%29%2F%28-1-%28-3%29%29+=+3%2F2


So after simplification the slope is m=3%2F2

So the slope is m=3%2F2



For the 2 points: (-7,-5) and (5, -6)
Solved by pluggable solver: Finding the slope
To find the slope going from (-7,-5) to (5,-6) we are going to calculate the change in y over the change in x, or the rise over the run. The change is the difference between the two coordinates. So if the y-coordinate of a point goes from -5 to -6, the change in these numbers is -1 (since -6--5=-1). If the x-coordinate changes from -7 to 5, then the change is 12 (since 5--7=12). So to calculate the slope we use this formula:
Slope:

m=%28change_in_y%29%2F%28change_in_x%29=rise%2Frun where m is the slope

So now we let y%5B2%5D=-6,y%5B1%5D=-5,x%5B2%5D=5,x%5B1%5D=-7Now plug these numbers into the slope formula:

m=%28y%5B2%5D-y%5B1%5D%29%2F%28x%5B2%5D-x%5B1%5D%29=%28-6-%28-5%29%29%2F%285-%28-7%29%29+=+-1%2F12


So after simplification the slope is m=-1%2F12

So the slope is m=-1%2F12
If you want to check your answers, or are really stuck with finding the slope, you can use this solver to find the slope through 2 points:

http://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/Linear-equations/slope.solver