To find the slope, you find the change in y-values over the change in x-values.
Your first point is: (5,-3)
Your second point is (8, -5)
Your x-values are: 5 and 8
Your y-values are -3 and -5
The equation to find slope is: slope = (y2-y1)/(x2-x1)
- The 2s and 1s indicate which point the values belong to, it makes sure that you align the right x-value with its correct y-value. It doesn't matter which point you assign as 1 or 2, as long as the values match
- So, x-value 5 will match with y-value -3, and x-value 8 will match with y-value -5
Now you plug in out values :
slope = (y2-y1)/(x2-x1)
slope = (-5-(-3))/(8-5)
slope = (-2)/(3)
slope = -2/3
