Basic Math Examples

$(- 7, 2)$ , $(9, 6)$

Step 1

Slope is equal to the change in $y$ over the change in $x$ , or rise over run.

$m = \frac{change in y}{change in x}$

Step 2

The change in $x$ is equal to the difference in x-coordinates (also called run), and the change in $y$ is equal to the difference in y-coordinates (also called rise).

$m = \frac{y_{2} - y_{1}}{x_{2} - x_{1}}$

Step 3

Substitute in the values of $x$ and $y$ into the equation to find the slope.

$m = \frac{6 - (2)}{9 - (- 7)}$

Step 4

Simplify.

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Step 4.1

Simplify the numerator.

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Step 4.1.1

Multiply $- 1$ by $2$ .

$m = \frac{6 - 2}{9 - (- 7)}$

Step 4.1.2

Subtract $2$ from $6$ .

$m = \frac{4}{9 - (- 7)}$

Step 4.2

Simplify the denominator.

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Step 4.2.1

Multiply $- 1$ by $- 7$ .

$m = \frac{4}{9 + 7}$

Step 4.2.2

Add $9$ and $7$ .

$m = \frac{4}{16}$

Step 4.3

Cancel the common factor of $4$ and $16$ .

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Step 4.3.1

Factor $4$ out of $4$ .

$m = \frac{4 (1)}{16}$

Step 4.3.2

Cancel the common factors.

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Step 4.3.2.1

Factor $4$ out of $16$ .

$m = \frac{4 \cdot 1}{4 \cdot 4}$

Step 4.3.2.2

Cancel the common factor.

$m = \frac{4 \cdot 1}{4 \cdot 4}$

Step 4.3.2.3

Rewrite the expression.

$m = \frac{1}{4}$

Step 5

The slope of a perpendicular line is the negative reciprocal of the slope of the line that passes through the two given points.

$m_{perpendicular} = - \frac{1}{m}$

Step 6

Simplify $- \frac{1}{\frac{1}{4}}$ .

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Step 6.1

Multiply the numerator by the reciprocal of the denominator.

$m_{perpendicular} = - (1 \cdot 4)$

Step 6.2

Multiply $- (1 \cdot 4)$ .

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Step 6.2.1

Multiply $4$ by $1$ .

$m_{perpendicular} = - 1 \cdot 4$

Step 6.2.2

Multiply $- 1$ by $4$ .

$m_{perpendicular} = - 4$

Step 7