Question

Shirdena found the slope of the segment with endpoints (-2,7) and (-5, -8) as follows: [7- (-8)] / [-2-(-5)] =15/3. Her friend found the slope as follows: [(-8)-7] / [(-5)-(-2)] = -15/ -3. They wandered how a segment could have different slopes. How would you respond?

Answer 1

the slope formula is : (y2 - y1) / (x2 - x1)
u could label ur points as:
(-2,7)...x1 = -2 and y1 = 7
(-5,-8)..x2 = -5 and y2 = -8
OR
(-5,-8)...x1 = -5 and y1 = -8
(-2,7)...x2 = -2 and y2 = 7
either way, ur gonna get the same answer. As far as Shirdena and her friend, they did not get different slopes because 15/3 and -15/-3 both equal 5

Answer 2

They both will equal 5