So i was going over a problem that i didn't understand which is What is the slope of the function described in the table below?

Question

x I y
0 | -3
2 | -2
4 | -1
6 | 0
the choices were f) -3
g) 1/2
h) 2
J) 3
i know that the answer is g because my family told me but i don't understand why can someone please explain to me?

Answer 1

Look at the table.
x changes by +2
y changes by -1

The slope is the ratio of changes,

y-change / x-change = -1/2

So, the answer is g if there is a typo and it reads -1/2

Answer 2

ohhhhhhhh thank you so much but yeah i was wondering too because there was no negative signs but i think there was a typo

Answer 3

In your case x and y coordinates are:

x1 = 0, x2 = 2, x3 = 4, x4 = 6

y1 = - 3, y2 = - 2, y3 = -1, y4 = 0

slope = change in y / change in x

This mean, divide the change in height by the change in horizontal distance.

slope = ( y2 - y1 ) / ( x2 - x1 ) = [ - 2 - ( - 3 ) ] / ( 2 - 0 ) = ( - 2 + 3 ) / 2 = 1 / 2

slope = ( y3 - y2 ) / ( x3 - x2 ) = [ - 1 - ( - 2 ) ] / ( 4 - 2 ) = ( - 1 + 2 ) / 2 = 1 / 2

slope = ( y4 - y3 ) / ( x4 - x3 ) = [ 0 - ( - 1 ) ] / ( 6 - 4 ) = ( 0 + 1 ) / 2 = 1 / 2

Answer: g) 1 / 2 isn't a typo.

Answer 4

Damon has it right

What was I thinking???

Answer 5

Sorry, Bosnian.
Blew that, too.