Question

What is the slope of the line represented by the data table?
x | y
-1 | -6
0 | -8
1 | -10
2 | -12

Graph the points on a coordinate plane. Connect the points with a line

What does the point (0,-8) represent?

Answer 1

a) Slope:    (y2 - y1) / (x2 - x1)

You can use point  (-1, -6) and (0, -8)

Slope =    (-8 - -6) /(0 - -1) =   (-8+6)/(0+1) = -2/1  = -2.

Slope = -2.

b) Point (0, -8)  is the point such that  x = 0,  and y = -8, this point represents the vertical intercept  of the equation.  The point where the line cuts the y axis.