Question

What is the slope of the line represented by the points in the table?


x
y
–2
–0.35
–1
–0.3
0
–0.25
1
–0.2
2
–0.15

Negative 0.05
Negative .005
0.005
0.05

Answer 1

The slope of the line is:

m = ∆y / ∆x

In this case:

m = ( y2 - y1 ) / ( x2 - x1 )

m = [ - 0.3 - ( - 0 .35 ) ] / [ - 1 - ( - 2 ) ]

m = ( - 0.3 + 0 .35 ) / ( - 1 + 2 )

m = 0.05 / 1

m = 0.05


m = ( y3 - y2 ) / ( x3 - x2 )

m = [ - 0.25 - ( - 0 .3 ) ] / [ 0 - ( - 1 ) ]

m = ( - 0.25 + 0 .3 ) / ( 0 + 1 )

m = 0.05 / 1

m = 0.05


m = ( y4 - y3 ) / ( x4 - x3 )

m = [ - 0.2 - ( - 0 .25 ) ] / ( 1 - 0 )

m = ( - 0.2 + 0 .25 ) / 1

m = 0.05 / 1

m = 0.05


m = ( y5 - y4 ) / ( x5 - x4 )

m = [ - 0.15 - ( - 0 .2 ) ] / ( 2 - 1 )

m = ( - 0.15 + 0 .2 ) / 1

m = 0.05 / 1

m = 0.05