Chapter 2: Problem 14
Find the slope of the line that passes through each pair of points. $$ (-8,-3),(2,3) $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The slope is \(\frac{3}{5}\).
Step by step solution
01
Recall the Slope Formula
The slope of a line passing through two points \(x_1, y_1\) and \(x_2, y_2\) is given by the formula \(m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1}\). This formula calculates the change in \(y\) divided by the change in \(x\).
02
Identify the Coordinates
Here, the two points given are \((-8, -3)\) and \(2, 3\). Thus, \(x_1 = -8\), \(y_1 = -3\), \(x_2 = 2\), and \(y_2 = 3\).
03
Substitute the Values
Substitute the values into the slope formula: \(\begin{align*}m &= \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1} \&= \frac{3 - (-3)}{2 - (-8)}\end{align*}\).
04
Simplify the Expression
Further simplify the expression: \(\begin{align*}m &= \frac{3 + 3}{2 + 8} \&= \frac{6}{10}\end{align*}\).
05
Simplify the Fraction
Divide both the numerator and the denominator by their greatest common divisor, which is 2: \(m = \frac{6}{10} = \frac{3}{5}\). Thus, the slope of the line is \(\frac{3}{5}\).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Slope Formula
The slope formula is key to understanding how steep a line is. It tells us how much the line rises or falls for every unit it moves horizontally. The formula for slope, often noted as \( m \), is given by:\[m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1}\]Here:
- \( x_1, y_1 \) are the coordinates of the first point on the line,
- \( x_2, y_2 \) are the coordinates of the second point.
Coordinates
Coordinates are used to pinpoint the exact location of a point on a graph. They come in pairs, written as \((x, y)\), and represent positions on the x-axis (horizontal) and y-axis (vertical), respectively.For example, the point \((-8, -3)\) means:
- The point is 8 units left of the origin on the x-axis because of the negative sign.
- It is 3 units down on the y-axis for the same reason.
Simplifying Fractions
Simplifying fractions makes them easier to understand and work with. A fraction is simplified when it has the smallest possible numbers on the top (numerator) and bottom (denominator).For instance, when you have the fraction \(\frac{6}{10}\), it's not in its simplest form. By dividing both numbers by 2, you reduce it to \(\frac{3}{5}\). Simplifying shouldn't change the value of the fraction, just make it as simple as possible. This reduced form of fractions provides a clearer picture of the slope.
Greatest Common Divisor
The greatest common divisor (GCD) is the largest number that divides both the numerator and the denominator without leaving a remainder.To simplify fractions like \(\frac{6}{10}\), you need the GCD of 6 and 10, which is 2. Here's how it works:
- List the factors of 6: 1, 2, 3, 6.
- List the factors of 10: 1, 2, 5, 10.
- Identify the largest number they both have: 2.