Question

find the slope:
here are the points (-2,1) (6,-2)

so it would be (-2-1) over (6- -2)


CORRECT?

Answer 1

it should be (y1 -y2) over (x1 -x2)

(1-(-2)) over (-2 -(6)) = 3/-8 or:

-3/8

Answer 2

and then how woudl i put that into slope intercept equation...
y=mx+b

Answer 3

take either coordinate set, doesnt matter; and plug it into:

y = (-3/8)x + b and solve for (b)

Lets use (-2,1)...

1 = (-3/8)(-2) + b
1 = (-6/8) + b
1 + (6/8) = b
(8/8) + (6/8) = b
(14/8) = b

we can reduce (14/8) to (7/4)

since we know (m) and (b); lets get rid of the values for (x) and (y) to form the equation:

y = (-3/8)x + (7/4)

Answer 4

i just looked at the answer in the book and it said 1/4.... any idea how they got taht?

Answer 5

yeah; i missed something...

(-3/8)(-2) is not a negative, its a positive

1 = (6/8) + b

1 - (6/8) = b
(8/8) - (6/8) = b
(2/8) = b

2/8 reduces to 1/4

itll get ya everytime :)

Answer 6

yeah its those simple little things that alwasy get me. i really appreciate all your help!