Question

find the slope of the line that passes through (2, 8) and (5, 1). simplify your answer and write it as a proper fraction, improper fraction, or integer.

Explanation:

Step1: Recall slope formula

The slope \( m \) between two points \( (x_1, y_1) \) and \( (x_2, y_2) \) is given by \( m=\frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1} \).
Here, \( x_1 = 2 \), \( y_1 = 8 \), \( x_2 = 5 \), \( y_2 = 1 \).

Step2: Substitute values into formula

Substitute the values into the formula: \( m=\frac{1 - 8}{5 - 2} \).

Step3: Simplify the expression

First, calculate the numerator and denominator: \( 1 - 8=-7 \) and \( 5 - 2 = 3 \). So, \( m=\frac{-7}{3} \) or \( -\frac{7}{3} \).

Answer:

\( -\frac{7}{3} \)