Question

What is the slope of the line with points (-3, 2) and (-3, -2)?

Answer 1

-4

Explanation:

(-3 , 2) = (x1 , y1)

(-3 , -2) = (x2 , y2)

slope (m) = y2 - y1/x2 - x1

=-2-2/-3-(-3)

=-4/-3+3

=-4/0

=-4

Answer 2

No slope.

Explanation:

We want to find the slope of the line with the points (-3, 2) and (-3, -2).

To find the slope of any line, we can use the slope formula:

`\displaystyle m=(y_2-y_1)/(x_2-x_1)`

We can let (-3, 2) be (x₁, y₁) and (-3, -2) be (x₂, y₂). Substitute:

`\displaystyle m=((-2)-(2))/((-3)-(-3))`

Evaluate:

`\displaystyle m=(-2-2)/(-3+3)=(-4)/(0)`

Anything divided by zero is undefined.

Therefore, the slope does not exist. The line has no slope.

If you plot the two points and graph the line, you can see that it is a vertical line. If you recall, vertical lines have no slopes.