Chapter 5.1, Problem 36PPE

To determine

To Find :The slope of the line through the points $\left(–5,0.124\right)$ and $\left(–5,–0.584\right)$ .

Answer to Problem 36PPE

The slope of the line through $\left(–5,0.124\right)$ and $\left(–5,–0.584\right)$ is undefined.

Explanation of Solution

Given information:

Consider the points $\left(–5,0.124\right)$ and $\left(–5,–0.584\right)$

The slope of the line passing through the points $\left(x_1,y_1\right)$ and $\left(x_2,y_2\right)$ is:

  $\text{Slope}=\frac{y_2-y_1}{x_2-x_1}$

By substituting $\left(–5,0.124\right)$ for $\left(x_1,y_1\right)$ and $\left(–5,–0.584\right)$ for $\left(x_2,y_2\right)$

  $\begin{array}{l}\text{Slope}=\frac{y_2-y_1}{x_2-x_1}\\ \begin{array}{l}=\frac{-0.584-0.124}{-5-(-5)}\hfill \\ =\frac{-0.708}{-5+5}\hfill \\ =-\frac{0.708}{0}\hfill \end{array}\end{array}$

Division by zero is undefined.

Graph cannot be drawn.

Therefore, the slope of the line through $\left(–5,0.124\right)$ and (−5,−0.584) is undefined.