a. The given equation of the line is \( y = -43x \). In this equation, the slope is the coefficient of \( x \), which is -43. Therefore, the slope of the line is -43.
b. If the equation \( y = -43x \) was shifted, we would need more specific information about how it was shifted (e.g., vertically or horizontally, and by how much) to provide the new equation.
- For a vertical shift, if it was shifted upwards by \( k \) units, the new equation would be \( y = -43x + k \).
- If it was shifted downwards by \( k \) units, the new equation would be \( y = -43x - k \).
- For a horizontal shift, if it was shifted right by \( h \) units, the new equation would be \( y = -43(x - h) \) (which expands to \( y = -43x + 43h \)).
- If it was shifted left by \( h \) units, the equation would be \( y = -43(x + h) \) (which expands to \( y = -43x - 43h \)).
Please provide the direction and amount of the shift to determine the new equation.