Find the slope of the line containing the points P1 and P2.

Question

Find the slope of the line containing the points P₁ and P_2.

3.P₁(1, 3), P₂(5, −3)

4. P₁(0, −1), P₂(3, −2)

5.P₁(−2, 7), P₂(1, 7)

6.P₁(−2, 4), P₂(−1, −1)

7.P₁(3, 1), P₂(3, −2)

Answer 1

The slope of the line between 2 points (x₁,y₁) and (x₂,y₂) is

m = (y₂ - y₁) / (x₂ - x₁)

Answer 2

Slope is given by finding the difference between y values (ie, how far it rises) and then dividing it by the difference in x values (ie how far it runs). An easy way to remember this is with the phrase 'slope is rise over run.'

The full formula is

y1-y2 / x1-x2

For example, if you had two points: P1 (4,5) and P2 (6, 9), you would set up the formula as follows:

5-9 / 4-6

simplifying yields 4/2, and if you finish the division you find that the slope is 2.

I hope that helps you doing the problems you have set out.