Question

$ (-12, 1) and (-8, 6).$Calculate the slope of this line.Do you think the slope will be the same if the order of the points is reversed? Verify by calculating the slope. I don't get what I have to do, could you help me?

Answer 1

Given the points:

(x1, y1) = (-12, 1)

(x2, y2) ==> (-8, 6)

To find the slope, use the slope formula below:

$m=\frac{y2-y1}{x2-x1}$$\begin{gathered} m=\frac{6-1}{-8-(-12)}=\frac{6-1}{-8+12} \\ \\ m=\frac{5}{4} \end{gathered}$

The slope of the line is:

$\frac{5}{4}$

If the order of the points is reversed, let's find the slope.

First swap the order of the points:

(x1, y1) ==> (-8, 6)

(x2, y2) ==> (-12, 1)

$\begin{gathered} m=\frac{1-6}{-12-(-8)}=\frac{1-6}{-12+8} \\ \\ m=\frac{-5}{-4} \\ \\ m=\frac{5}{4} \end{gathered}$

Therefore, if the order of the points is reversed, the slope will still be the same.

ANSWER:

$\frac{5}{4}$

If the order of the points is reversed, the slope will remain the same.