Okay let’s take the question “Find the slope of the points (4, 1) and (-2, 7)” as an example
The slope of an equation or graph is the rate of change.
In order to find slope, we use the formula m=rise/run or m=y2-y1/x2-x1
“m” is equal to the slope
“rise” or “y2-y1” is the difference (subtraction) of the two y coordinates
“run” or “x2-x1” is the difference (subtraction) of the two x coordinates
Remember, the points we are using for this example are (4, 1) and (-2, 7)
m = y2-y1/x2-x1
m = 7-1/-2-4
1 and 7 are your y coordinates so you plug them in an find the difference (subtraction)
4 and -2 are your x coordinates so you plug them in an find the difference (subtraction)
It doesn’t matter whether you do “m=7-1/-2-4” or “m=1-7/4-(-2)” both will have the same answer
The only thing you can’t do is something like “m=7-1/4-(-2)” or “m=1-7/-2-4”
The bottom can’t be solved in the opposite way of how it was solved on top and vice versa of that makes sense
Also, keep in mind that if you see two negatives as in the “m=1-7/4-(-2)” example, you turn it into an addition symbol
Like this:
“m=1-7/4+2)”
Because two negatives are equal to a positive
m = y2-y1/x2-x1
m = 7-1/-2-4
m = 6/-6
m = 6/-6
m = -1
Remember that a negative divided by a positive is always a negative so it doesn’t matter where you place the negative sign
For example, if your slope was 2/-5, that would be the same as -2/5
And when you divide two negatives, it always equals to a positive
For example -2/-5 would simplify to 2/5
I hope that helped and made sense :)
