# Identifying the slope of a line

1. Apr 20, 2016

### Kirito123

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
identifying the slope of the line?

2. Relevant equations
y2-y1/x2-x1

3. The attempt at a solution
i chose two points on the line, the first point is (8,-3) and the second point is (-6,4). Are these points accurate?
i used the slope equation to solve for the slope of the line from the graph:
4-(-3) / -6-8 = -7/14 = -1/2

is this right?

2. Apr 20, 2016

### BvU

Well done. One tip: use brackets -- not 4-(-3) / -6-8 but ( 4-(-3) ) / ( -6-8 )

3. Apr 20, 2016

### Kirito123

can the answer also be 7/-14 and 1/-2

4. Apr 20, 2016

### Ray Vickson

What you wrote means $y_2 - \frac{y_1}{x_2} - x_2$, which is not correct. Did you mean $\frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1}$? If so, you need to use parentheses, like this: (y2-y1)/(x2-x1).

5. Apr 20, 2016

### BvU

Both of these are the same value as $-{1\over 2}$, which is the simplest way to express that value. Whatever points you choose, you always get $- {a\over 2a}$ as a result.

6. Apr 20, 2016

### Kirito123

got it, thanks!

7. Apr 20, 2016

### drvrm

its a straight line ,so where lies the confusion about its being wrong?

8. Apr 20, 2016

### Kirito123

i solved this question previously and got a different slope compared to what I'm getting now. Then i realized that my points were wrong when doing it the first time, so i wanted to make sure the points i chose were correct in my second attempt.