Question

What is the slope of the line described by the data in the table below ?

Answer 1

Look carefully at the table.  As x increases from -1 to 1, y increases from 3 to 8, a jump of positive 5.  Thus, the slope is

          5
m = ------
          2

You could find m using other sets of points if you wish, e. g., from (1,8) to (5,18).