How do you find the slope of (5, -2), ( -16, 4)?

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Answer 1 · 2016-07-30T03:23:35

A slope is a ratio of the change in y divided by the change in x

First find the change in the #y# value. Take

#4 - (-2) = 6# as the change in #y#.

Next find the change in the #x# value. Take

#-16 - 5 = -21# as the change in #x#

Then divide the change in the #y# value by the change in the #x# value, so

#"slope" = (-21)/6 = (- 7 xx cancel(3))/(2 xx cancel(3))#

A factor of three can be divide out leaving a slope of

#"slope" = - 7/2#