What is the slope of 3--3 over -4-3

Question

the slope of the equation can't equal to 0 and the slope is negative.

Answer 1

Hi Ashley;

3--3 over -4-3

Minus a negative number is plus a number.

(3+3)/(-4-3)

6/-7

-6/7

It is a negative slope which is not equal to zero.

Answer 2

Hello, thank you for taking the time to post your question!

The underlying formula that you want to use here for the slope is

m = (y2 – y1) / (x2 – x1) … on this one we have

m = (3 - -3) / (-4 - 3) = 6 / -7

meaning that the slope between those two points is m = -6/7

I hope that helps you get moving in a better direction on this type of question! Feel free to reach out if you have any additional questions beyond that :)

Answer 3

Hi Ashley, I have to agree with Vivian on this one. The way you stated your question looks like you already did the rise over run part of it but you were having trouble with the next step combining the signed numbers. Remember that when ever you have two minus signs right together when you are combining change it to a positive. Therefore the numerator becomes 3 + 3 or 6. The denominator -4 -3 becomes -7 because whenever you combine numbers with like signs you get the sum and keep the same sign. So the slope is -6/7 like Vivian said or 6/-7 or -(6/7). Either of those 3 are equivalent. Shannon picked what you gave as points. If they were points there would be a comma between the numbers and each pair would have had parenthesis around them. I don't think she saw the double minus sign either and her final step of -6/1 should yield -6 not -1. Sorry Shannon I am not picking on you.

Answer 4

Hi Ashley, so as you may know, the equation for slope (where m represents slope).  Here are a few tips about slope, a slope that equals 0, just means there is no slope.  A slope with a negative value just means the line is another direction than a positive slope.  Now, I am assuming the points given are

point 1 =(-4,3) and point 2 =(3,-3), now using point 2 to be my x₂ and my y₂ values and point 1 to be my x₁ and y₁ values. I have x₁ = -4, y₁=3, x₂ = 3,

y₂ = -3

slope = m=rise = y₂ - y₁ =  _-3-3  = _-6_ = -6 =-6

                 run    x₂ - x₁       3-(-4)    3+4     7    7

Your slope = -6/7

 

Best of luck,

Shannon