SOLUTION: What is the slope of a line passing through the point (-1, -3) with an intercept of 2

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Question 1141997: What is the slope of a line passing through the point (-1, -3) with an intercept of 2
Found 2 solutions by jim_thompson5910, greenestamps:
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

If you mean "y intercept of 2", then the point (0,2) is on this line.

We have the two points (-1, -3) and (0, 2). Let's use the slope formula.

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

m+=+%282+-+%28-3%29%29%2F%280+-+%28-1%29%29

m+=+%282+%2B+3%29%2F%280+%2B+1%29

m+=+%285%29%2F%281%29

m+=+5

Final Answer: 5

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side note: The value 5 can be written as 5/1. Compare this to slope = rise/run and we see that rise = 5 and run = 1. Therefore, we go up 5 each time we move to the right 1, so we can generate as many points as we want along this line.

Answer by greenestamps(13203) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


You should of course understand the slope formula and how to use it.

But mathematics will be more enjoyable if you UNDERSTAND it, instead of relying on mysterious formulas.

A common sense definition of slope is the ratio of how far you move up or down on the graph compared to how far you move moving left to right.

So picture (on paper, if you want; or mentally, if you can) the two given points (-1,-3) and (0,2).

The first point is to the left of the second; so look at how far you travel in the y direction as you move in the x direction.

From the first point to the second, you move 1 unit to the right (-1 to 0); in doing that, you move 5 units in the y direction (-3 to 2).

Then by the common sense definition of slope, the slope is 5/1 = 5.