How do I find the slope of the line which passes through the points #(0, -5)# and #(-5, 12)#?

1 Answer
Mar 2, 2018

The slope is #-{17}/{5}#.

Explanation:

The slope of a line passing through points #(x_1,y_1)# and #(x_2,y_2)# is defined as:

#m={y_2-y_1}/{x_2-x_1}#

if the #x# coordinates are not equal. The slope is not defined if the #x# coordinates are equal because that would require dividing by zero.

Here:

#(x_1,y_1)=(0,-5)#

#(x_2,y_2)=(-5,12)#

and then:

#m={y_2-y_1}/{x_2-x_1}={12-(-5)}/{-5-0}=-{17}/{5}#