Payton's calculation for the slope is incorrect.
The formula for slope (m) is given by:
\[ m = \frac{\Delta y}{\Delta x} = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1} \]
Given the points (6, -2) and (0, 8), we can assign:
- \( (x_1, y_1) = (6, -2) \)
- \( (x_2, y_2) = (0, 8) \)
Now we can find \(\Delta y\) and \(\Delta x\):
\[ \Delta y = y_2 - y_1 = 8 - (-2) = 8 + 2 = 10 \]
\[ \Delta x = x_2 - x_1 = 0 - 6 = -6 \]
Now substitute these values into the slope formula:
\[ m = \frac{\Delta y}{\Delta x} = \frac{10}{-6} = -\frac{5}{3} \]
Therefore, Payton is incorrect because she calculated the change in \(y\) (rise) over the change in \(x\) (run), but she made mistakes in her arithmetic.
So the most appropriate explanation is: Payton is incorrect because she calculated the change in \(y\) over the change in \(x\).