Chapter 3: Problem 45
Find the slope of the line containing each given pair of points. If the slope is undefined, state this. $$ (-2,3) \text { and }(-6,5) $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The slope is \( -\frac{1}{2} \).
Step by step solution
01
- Recall the Slope Formula
The slope of a line given two points \((x_1, y_1)\) and \((x_2, y_2)\) is computed using the formula: \[ m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1} \]
02
- Identify the Coordinates
Identify the coordinates of the given points. Here, the points are \((x_1, y_1) = (-2, 3)\) and \((x_2, y_2) = (-6, 5)\).
03
- Substitute the Coordinates into the Slope Formula
Substitute the coordinates into the slope formula: \[ m = \frac{5 - 3}{-6 - (-2)} \]
04
- Simplify the Numerator
Simplify the numerator: \[ 5 - 3 = 2 \]
05
- Simplify the Denominator
Simplify the denominator: \[ -6 - (-2) = -6 + 2 = -4 \]
06
- Compute the Slope
Divide the simplified numerator by the simplified denominator: \[ m = \frac{2}{-4} = -\frac{1}{2} \]
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Slope Formula
The slope of a line represents the rate at which one variable changes with respect to another. The slope formula is used to find the slope (m) of a line when you are given two points on that line. The formula is:
- \( m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1} \)
- ( x_1, y_1) and ( x_2, y_2) are the coordinates of the two given points.
- y_2 - y_1 is the change in the y-coordinates (vertical change).
- x_2 - x_1 is the change in the x-coordinates (horizontal change).
Coordinate Geometry
Coordinate geometry, also known as analytic geometry, involves using algebra to study geometric properties. In this context, it allows us to calculate the slope of a line using points from a coordinate plane. For instance, the points given are (-2, 3) and (-6, 5). Identifying these coordinates correctly is crucial:
- ( x_1, y_1) = (-2, 3)
- ( x_2, y_2) = (-6, 5)
Algebraic Computation
Algebraic computation is the process of performing mathematical operations to solve for unknowns. In the slope calculation, we follow a series of steps:
- Substitute the coordinates into the slope formula: \( m = \frac{5 - 3}{-6 - (-2)} \)
- Simplify the numerator: \( 5 - 3 = 2 \)
- Simplify the denominator: \( -6 - (-2) = -6 + 2 = -4 \)
- Divide the numerator by the denominator: \( m = \frac{2}{-4} = -\frac{1}{2} \)
Simplifying Fractions
Simplifying fractions is the process of reducing a fraction to its simplest form. It involves solving any arithmetic and then expressing the result in the lowest possible terms. When we computed the slope as \( m = \frac{2}{-4} \), we needed to simplify this fraction:
- Both 2 and 4 are divisible by 2.
- Divide both the numerator and the denominator by 2.
- The simplified slope is \( -\frac{1}{2} \).