How do you find the slope given (8,17) and (14,-17)?

1 Answer
Jul 13, 2016

#-17/3#

Explanation:

Slope (gradient) #->("change in the y-axis")/("change in the x-axis")#

Think of the gradient of a hill.

Let Point 1#->P_1->(x_1,y_1) = (8,17)#

Let Point 2#->P_2->(x_2,y_2)=(14,-17)#

Let the slope (gradient) be #m#

'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#->("change in the y-axis")/("change in the x-axis") ->(y_2-y_1)/(x_2-x_1)#

#=>m" "=" "(-17-17)/(14-8)" "=" "(-34)/6#

But #-34/6" " =" " -(34-:2)/(6-:2)" " =" " -17/3 #