I need to find the slope if it exists for (8,4) and (9,-2)...any help is appreciated
the only way for the slope not to exist if you have a vertical line.
for that to happen the change in the x's has to be zero.
I see the change in x as 9-8 or 1, so ......
so there's no slope for these ordered pairs?
Yes there is
Slope = (change in the y's)/(change in the x's)
slope = (-2-4)/(9-8)
= -6/1
= -6
Yoy only specified two ordered pairs or "points". Points by themselves do not have a slope.
You shoulds have asked for the slope for the straight line BETWEEN or CONNECTING those points. That is what Reiny provided.
To find the slope of a line, you need to use the formula:
slope = (change in y-coordinates) / (change in x-coordinates)
In this case, you have two points: (8,4) and (9,-2). To calculate the change in y-coordinates, subtract the y-coordinate of the first point from the y-coordinate of the second point:
(-2) - (4) = -6
To calculate the change in x-coordinates, subtract the x-coordinate of the first point from the x-coordinate of the second point:
9 - 8 = 1
Now, plug these values into the slope formula:
slope = (-6) / (1)
The slope is -6. So, the slope of the line passing through the points (8,4) and (9,-2) is -6.