Q&A for How to Find the Slope of a Line Using Two Points

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What does a negative slope look like?

Community Answer

A negative slope moves down, left-to-right.

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Question

Can you do this without a graph, like when they give you 2 coordinates?

Emma Han

Community Answer

Yes you can. The graph is only there to help you. You can only find the gradient if they give you 2 points.

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Question

How do you compute slope with (-6,3) and (2,9)?

GB742

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Use the formula m = (y2 - y1)/(x2 - x1). In this example: (9 - 3)/(2 - -6) = (6)/(8). Therefore, the slope of the line connecting (-6,3) and (2,9) is 6/8.

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How do you determine the slope from two points when all the numbers are negative?

GB742

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You can do this as you would if the numbers were positive using the 'rise over run' formula m = (y2 - y1)/(x2 - x1). For example, if point A has the coordinates (-8, -26) and point B has the coordinates (-2, -58): (-58 - -26)/(-2 - -8) = (-32)/(6) = -32/6, therefore, the slope of the line connecting A and B is -32/6.

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How do I find the y-intercept?

Community Answer

The y-intercept of a line is the point where the line crosses the y-axis, which occurs when x = 0. So, for example, if the line is represented by the equation y = 3x + 9, when you substitute zero for x, y will equal 9. That makes 9 the y-intercept. (The y-intercept remains the same no matter what the value of x is, but you can't tell what the y-intercept is until you choose zero for the value of x.)

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