Select the correct answer.

What is the slope of the line that goes through [tex](-5, -5)[/tex] and [tex](5, -7)[/tex]?

A. [tex]-\frac{1}{5}[/tex]
B. 0
C. [tex]\frac{1}{5}[/tex]
D. undefined



Answer :

To find the slope of the line that goes through the points [tex]\((-5, -5)\)[/tex] and [tex]\((5, -7)\)[/tex], we use the slope formula. The slope [tex]\(m\)[/tex] between two points [tex]\((x_1, y_1)\)[/tex] and [tex]\((x_2, y_2)\)[/tex] is given by:

[tex]\[ m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1} \][/tex]

For the given points, [tex]\((x_1, y_1) = (-5, -5)\)[/tex] and [tex]\((x_2, y_2) = (5, -7)\)[/tex], we can substitute these values into the formula to find the slope.

First, calculate the difference in the [tex]\(y\)[/tex]-coordinates:

[tex]\[ y_2 - y_1 = -7 - (-5) = -7 + 5 = -2 \][/tex]

Next, calculate the difference in the [tex]\(x\)[/tex]-coordinates:

[tex]\[ x_2 - x_1 = 5 - (-5) = 5 + 5 = 10 \][/tex]

Now, substitute these differences into the slope formula:

[tex]\[ m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1} = \frac{-2}{10} = -\frac{1}{5} \][/tex]

Therefore, the slope of the line that goes through [tex]\((-5, -5)\)[/tex] and [tex]\((5, -7)\)[/tex] is [tex]\(-\frac{1}{5}\)[/tex].

The correct answer is:
A. [tex]\(-\frac{1}{5}\)[/tex]