Chapter 5: Problem 85
Find the slope of the line that passes through each pair of points. $$ (-3,-2),(-1,-4) $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The slope of the line is -1.
Step by step solution
01
Identify the Points
The points given in the problem are \((-3, -2)\) and \((-1, -4)\). We will label them as \((x_1, y_1) = (-3, -2)\) and \((x_2, y_2) = (-1, -4)\).
02
Know the Slope Formula
The formula to calculate the slope \(m\) of a line passing through two points \((x_1, y_1)\) and \((x_2, y_2)\) is: \[ m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1} \].
03
Substitute the Values into the Slope Formula
Substitute the known values into the formula: \[ m = \frac{-4 - (-2)}{-1 - (-3)} \].
04
Simplify the Differences
Perform the operations inside the formula: In the numerator, \(-4 - (-2) = -4 + 2 = -2\), and in the denominator, \(-1 - (-3) = -1 + 3 = 2\).
05
Calculate the Slope
Plug the simplified values back into the slope formula: \[ m = \frac{-2}{2} = -1 \].
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Point-Slope Formula
The point-slope formula is a handy tool in coordinate geometry that relates a point on a line to its slope. It allows us to write the equation of a line when a point \(x_1, y_1\) on the line and the slope \(m\) are known. The formula itself is expressed as: \[ y - y_1 = m(x - x_1) \].
- Point: This is any specific point on the line, defined by its coordinates (e.g., \((-3, -2)\)).
- Slope (m): This is the measure of the steepness or incline of a line, calculated by the change in y-coordinates divided by the change in x-coordinates between two distinct points.
Linear Equations
Linear equations are algebraic expressions of the form \(ax + by = c\), where the graph is a straight line. They are fundamental in understanding the relationship between two variables that change at a constant rate. For graphing, linear equations can be expressed in different forms, including:
- Slope-Intercept Form: \(y = mx + b\), where \(m\) is the slope and \(b\) is the y-intercept.
- Point-Slope Form: \(y - y_1 = m(x - x_1)\), connecting the slope and a specific point on the line.
Coordinate Geometry
Coordinate geometry, also known as analytic geometry, uses algebra to investigate geometric properties. It allows us to represent geometric shapes in a numerical way through the coordinate plane.
- Coordinate Plane: This is a two-dimensional surface where points are located using an ordered pair of numbers \(x, y\).
- Lines: In coordinate geometry, lines are the simplest figures that can be graphed. Understanding their equations helps in visualizing and solving geometric problems.