Problem 28 - Algebra 2

Question

Find the slope of the line that passes through each pair of points. $$ (-1,-2),(4,-2) $$

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

The slope is 0, indicating a horizontal line.

Step 1: Identifying the formula for slope

The formula for finding the slope (m) between two points \((x_1, y_1)\) and \((x_2, y_2)\) is given by: \[ m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1} \].

Step 2: Substituting the given points

Plug in the given coordinates into the formula: Points are \((x_1, y_1) = (-1, -2)\) and \((x_2, y_2) = (4, -2)\). So the formula becomes:\[ m = \frac{-2 - (-2)}{4 - (-1)} \].

Step 3: Simplifying the expression

Calculate the changes in y and x. Since the y-coordinates are the same (-2), the difference in y will be \(-2 - (-2) = 0\), and the difference in x \(4 - (-1) = 4 + 1 = 5\). So, the formula simplifies to:\[ m = \frac{0}{5} \].

Step 4: Conclusion

Since any number divided by a non-zero number is zero, we find that the slope is 0. This means the line is horizontal.

Key Concepts

Coordinate Geometry

Coordinate geometry, also known as analytic geometry, is the study of geometry using the coordinate system. When you imagine the grid where you often plot points, you are working with the coordinate plane, comprised of the x-axis and y-axis. Each point on this plane can be identified by a pair of numbers, known as coordinates, written in the form

• (x, y)

The first number, x, tells us how far to move horizontally from the origin, while the second number, y, indicates how far to move vertically. This system provides a unique way to visualize geometrical shapes and understand their properties like lines, slopes, and distances. Coordinate geometry not only helps visualize mathematical concepts but also provides a system to derive them mathematically with ease.

Slope Formula

The slope formula is a critical component in coordinate geometry. It helps us determine the steepness or incline of a line, which can be seen as how much the line rises or falls as it moves from left to right across the plane. The slope, often represented by the letter

• m

can be calculated using the formula: \[ m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1} \]. Here,

• (y_2, x_2)
• (y_1, x_1)

are the coordinates of two distinct points on a line. By substituting these values into the formula, we calculate the rate at which the line ascends or descends. A positive slope indicates an upward trend, while a negative slope indicates a downward trend. Understanding the slope formula is essential for figuring out not just lines, but also deeper concepts like linear functions and graph behavior.

Horizontal Line

A horizontal line in coordinate geometry is one that runs from left to right with a constant y-coordinate. The key feature of a horizontal line is its slope: it is always 0. Why is this? For any two points on a horizontal line, the y-coordinates remain unchanged, meaning the rise (or change in y) as given in the slope formula \[m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1}\] is 0. Since it doesn't rise or fall, the result is simply 0, and hence, the slope of a horizontal line is

• 0

This concept becomes clearer when we see coordinates like

• (-1,-2) and (4,-2)

in which the y-values are identical, confirming the line is perfectly horizontal across the plane. Knowing about horizontal lines and their properties help simplify many mathematical problems, especially when interpreting graphs and models.