Chapter 2: Problem 37
Find the slope of the line that passes through the given points, if possible. See Example 2. $$ \left(\frac{1}{4}, \frac{9}{2}\right),\left(-\frac{3}{4}, 0\right) $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The slope of the line is \( \frac{9}{2} \).
Step by step solution
01
Identify the Coordinates
The points given are \( \left( \frac{1}{4}, \frac{9}{2} \right) \) and \( \left( -\frac{3}{4}, 0 \right) \). These can be labeled as \( (x_1, y_1) \) and \( (x_2, y_2) \). Here, \( x_1 = \frac{1}{4} \), \( y_1 = \frac{9}{2} \), \( x_2 = -\frac{3}{4} \), and \( y_2 = 0 \).
02
Use the Slope Formula
The slope \( m \) of the line passing through two points \( (x_1, y_1) \) and \( (x_2, y_2) \) is calculated using the formula: \[ m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1} \]
03
Substitute the Values into the Formula
Substitute the values from the coordinates into the formula:\[ m = \frac{0 - \frac{9}{2}}{-\frac{3}{4} - \frac{1}{4}} \]
04
Calculate the Numerator
The numerator of the slope formula is \( 0 - \frac{9}{2} = -\frac{9}{2} \).
05
Calculate the Denominator
Calculate the denominator:\( -\frac{3}{4} - \frac{1}{4} = -\frac{3+1}{4} = -\frac{4}{4} = -1 \).
06
Simplify the Slope Calculation
Substitute the calculated numerator and denominator:\[ m = \frac{-\frac{9}{2}}{-1} = \frac{9}{2} \]The negative signs cancel each other.
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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 is a measure of its steepness and direction. It's crucial in understanding how two points are related by a linear path. To calculate the slope between two points \((x_1, y_1)\) and \((x_2, y_2)\), we use the Slope Formula:
- The formula is:\[m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1}\]
- The numerator \(y_2 - y_1\) represents the change in \(y\) values, while the denominator \(x_2 - x_1\) is the change in \(x\) values.
Coordinate Geometry
Coordinate geometry, also known as analytic geometry, is a branch of mathematics that uses a coordinate system to analyze and solve geometrical problems. Here, we represent points on a two-dimensional plane with pairs of numbers.
- The first number in the pair is the x-coordinate and indicates horizontal placement.
- The second number is the y-coordinate and shows vertical placement.
Linear Equations
Linear equations are equations that graph as straight lines on a coordinate plane. They are fundamental in algebra, showing how variables interact under constant rates of change. The general form is:
- \(y = mx + b\), where \(m\) is the slope and \(b\) is the y-intercept.
- The slope \(m\) indicates the line's steepness, while the intercept \(b\) is where the line crosses the y-axis.