A line in the Cartesian plane passes through the points (-2,4) and(2,-1). What are the rise and the run of the line?

Question

Please help me if you can, I am lost!

Answer 1

Let the points are (x₁, y₁) = (- 2, 4) and (x₂, y₂) = (2, - 1).

Slope m = [(y₂ - y₁)/(x₂ - ₁)] = rise/run.

Substitute (x₁, y₁) = (- 2, 4) and (x₂, y₂) = (2, - 1) in m = [(y₂ - y₁)/(x₂ - ₁)].

m = [(- 1 - 4))/(2 -(- 2))]

m = [- 5/4]

m = - 5/4 (or) 5/- 4 = rise/run.

Therefore, the rise is - 5 for which the run would be 4 (or) the rise is 5 for which the run is - 4.

In both cases the slope is - 5/4.