How do you find the slope of x-3y= -3?

1 Answer
Aug 21, 2015

#m = 1/3#

Explanation:

You can find the slope of this line by rearranging the equation to math slope-intercept form, which for a general form line looks like this

#color(blue)(y = mx + b)#

Your equation looks like this

#x - 3y = -3#

Start by moving #x# to the right-hand side of the equation

#-3y = -x - 3#

Now divide both sides of the equation by #-3# to get #y# alone on the left-hand side

#(color(red)(cancel(color(black)((-3)))) * y)/color(red)(cancel(color(black)((-3)))) = ((-1))/((-3))x + ((-3))/((-3))#

#y = 1/3x + 1#

Compare this euqation to the general form slope-intercept form to get the value of the slope, which in your case is

#m = color(green)(1/3)#