Chapter 2: Problem 27
Find the slope of the line that passes through the given points, if possible. See Example 2. $$ (-1,8),(6,1) $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The slope of the line is -1.
Step by step solution
01
Understand the Slope Formula
The slope \( m \) of a line passing through two points \((x_1, y_1)\) and \((x_2, y_2)\) is calculated using the formula \[ m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1} \].
02
Identify Given Points
Identify the coordinates of the given points. Here, \( x_1 = -1 \), \( y_1 = 8 \), \( x_2 = 6 \), and \( y_2 = 1 \).
03
Substitute Values into Slope Formula
Substitute the identified values into the slope formula: \[ m = \frac{1 - 8}{6 - (-1)} \].
04
Simplify the Expression
Simplify the expression in the slope formula: \[ m = \frac{1 - 8}{6 + 1} = \frac{-7}{7} \].
05
Calculate the Final Slope
Simplify \( \frac{-7}{7} \) to obtain the final slope: \( m = -1 \).
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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 crucial when determining how steep a line is, using two given points. Think of the slope as a measure of how much a line rises vertically for every unit it moves horizontally. The formula is:
- \( m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1} \)
Point Coordinates
Point coordinates are sets of numerical values that define the position of a point in space. In two-dimensional space, coordinates are given as a pair \((x, y)\).
For example, in our exercise, we are given the points \((-1, 8)\) and \((6, 1)\). Each pair contains an \(x\)-coordinate and a \(y\)-coordinate, respectively.
For example, in our exercise, we are given the points \((-1, 8)\) and \((6, 1)\). Each pair contains an \(x\)-coordinate and a \(y\)-coordinate, respectively.
- \((-1, 8)\) has \(x = -1\) and \(y = 8\).
- \((6, 1)\) has \(x = 6\) and \(y = 1\).
Line Equations
Line equations provide a method to represent any line on a plane, typically expressed in the form \( y = mx + b \). Here, \( m \) is the slope and \( b \) is the y-intercept—the point where the line crosses the y-axis.
By using the slope from our earlier calculation \( m = -1 \), we can write the equation of the line if we know the y-intercept.
Sometimes the equation is reorganized, but the main idea remains the same: to express the relationship between x and the corresponding value of y using constant values.
By using the slope from our earlier calculation \( m = -1 \), we can write the equation of the line if we know the y-intercept.
Sometimes the equation is reorganized, but the main idea remains the same: to express the relationship between x and the corresponding value of y using constant values.
Simplifying Fractions
Simplifying fractions is a vital step in obtaining the neatest form of a mathematical expression. It involves reducing a fraction to its simplest equivalent where the numerator and the denominator have no common factors other than 1.
In our exercise, we calculated the slope as \( \frac{-7}{7} \), which can be simplified by dividing both the numerator and the denominator by their greatest common divisor, which is 7, giving us \( -1 \).
In our exercise, we calculated the slope as \( \frac{-7}{7} \), which can be simplified by dividing both the numerator and the denominator by their greatest common divisor, which is 7, giving us \( -1 \).
- Divide \(-7\) by 7 = \(-1\)
- Divide 7 by 7 = 1