A line segment has endpoints at (-4,12) and (0,6). Another line segment has endpoins at (0,6) and (6,-3). Are the line segments part of the same line?

Question

1. Plot the line segments 
2. find out if they are apart of the same line 
3. explain

Answer 1

When plotting the two segments, you find that they share the point at (0,6).  Now calculate the slope on both line segments.  6 - 12 = -6.  0 - (-4) = -6/4 = -3/2.  the other segment slope = -3 - 6 = - 9 and 6 - 0 = 6.  So slope for segment 2 is - 9 / 6 = -3/2 for slope.  When using graph paper, after you plot the points and the segments, you will see that it ends up being one continuous line. remember slope = the difference in the y values divided by the difference in the x coordinates.  Larry W.