Chapter 8.6, Problem 19PPS

To determine

To find: The slope of the line

Answer to Problem 19PPS

The slope of line is -2.

Explanation of Solution

Given:

  $V\left(5,-7\right),W\left(-3,9\right)$

Calculation:

Consider two points $V\left(5,-7\right)$ and $W\left(-3,9\right)$

Slope of the line (m) passing through two points is ratio of the difference in y-coordinates to the corresponding difference in x-coordinates.

So, if two points $\left(x_1,y_1\right)$ and $\left(x_2,y_2\right)$ then slope is:

  $m=\frac{y_2-y_1}{x_2-x_1}$

Consider that $\left(x_1,y_1\right)=\left(5,-7\right)\text{ and }\left(x_2,y_2\right)=\left(-3,9\right)$

Put the value in slope formula:

  $\begin{array}{l}m=\frac{9-\left(-7\right)}{-3-5}\\ =\frac{9+7}{-8}\\ =\frac{16}{-8}\\ =-2\end{array}$

Therefore, the slope of line is -2.

Conclusion:

Therefore, the slope of line is -2.