Question

Find the slope of the line that passes through the points (2,-3) and (-5,1)

Answer 1

Remember that the two generic points are (x1, y1) and (x2, y2)

(x1, y1) = (2, -3), which means x1=2 and y1=-3

and (x2, y2) = (-5, 1), which means x2=-5 and y2=1


So x1=2, y1=-3, x2=-5, and y2=1.


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Now use the slope formula


m = (y2-y1)/(x2-x1)



m = (1-(-3))/(-5-2)



m = (1+3)/(-5-2)



m = 4/(-7)



m = -4/7



So the slope of the line that passes through the two points is -4/7

Answer 2

(2,-3)
-(-5,1)
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<7,-4>; slope = -4/7