how do I find the slope for (8,5)?

Question

its for conceptual algebra

home work problem - (8,5),(5,-1);y=-1/2x+4

Answer 1

The slope of a perpendicular line is the negative reciprocal.  If the first slope is -1/2 = m than the perpendicular slope is +2.  It does not matter what the coordinate.  

Your change in 'y' is 5+1 = 6 and your change in 'x' is 8 - 5 = 3:  6/3 = 2

Answer 2

You have the line: y = -1/2x + 4 the slope of this line is -1/2 which is the coefficient next to x.

You need to find the slope of the perpendicular line passing through points (8,5) and (5,-1).

The slope of the perpendicular line is the negative reciprocal to the first slope, so it going to be 2. Another way to find the slope is using the formula y₂-y₁/x₂-x_{1 .} 

x₁=8, x₂=5, y₁=5, y₂=-1

-1-5/5-8 = -6/-3 = 2

Answer 3

Your question lacks some information. First, slope of what curve at (8,5) (I assume this is the point on the plane)? If y=-½x+4, then this point is not on this line, which slope is just coefficient in front of x, that is -½. If you need to find a slope of the line passing through the points (8,5) and (5,-1), then draw coordinate system, mark those points, then draw a line through them. Look at the picture, recall that the slope is how steep this line is, it is given by rise over run, or (y₂-y₁)/(x₂-x₁). Plug in the appropriate coordinates, watching out the order (If (5-(-1)) for y₂-y₁ , then (8-5) for x₂-x₁, be careful here!). Calculate the slope. This is it. But then I do not understand why you need this second line equation. Could you, please, check the problem to clarify this?

 

P.S. OK, see Lorraine's answer, she clarified it for us.