What is the slope of (1,3) and (3,-2)?

Question

Find the slope of (1,3) and (3,-2)

Answer 1

Given two points (X₁,Y₁) and (X₂,Y₂) on a line, the slope =(Y₂ - Y₁) /(X₂ - X₁).

 

You are given the points (1,3) and (3,-2). Implying X₁ =1 , Y₁ =3, X₂=3, Y₂=-2

 

Use the formula for the slope above to answer the question. If you still have problems getting the correct answer, ask for more help.

 

Your answer should be a negative fraction or decimal if you are using a calculator.

 

 

Answer 2

Slope is defined as the change in y divided by the change in x.  It's also known as "rise over run".  So the equation for the slope of a line that goes through the points (x₁,y₁) and (x₂,y₂) is

 

slope = (y₂ - y₁)/(x₂ - x₁)

slope = (-2 - 3)/(3 - 1)

slope = -5/2

 

Some people worry about how to figure out which point to subtract from the other, but if you flip the points (slope = (y₁ - y₂)/(x₁ - x₂)) you will get the same answer.  Try it!

So it doesn't matter which is point 1 and which is point 2, as long as you keep them in the same order in the equation.  (Don't do (x₂ - x₁)/(y₁ - y₂)!)