How do you find the slope of a line in a coordinate plane?

To find the slope of a line in a coordinate plane, the correct approach involves using the formula ((y_2 - y_1) / (x_2 - x_1)). This formula calculates the change in the y-coordinates (the vertical change) divided by the change in the x-coordinates (the horizontal change) between two points on the line, ( (x_1, y_1) ) and ( (x_2, y_2) ). The result gives you a measure of how steep the line is and in which direction it slopes.

The slope is a critical concept in mathematics as it describes the rate of change represented by the line, indicating how much y increases or decreases for a corresponding change in x.

Other formulas mentioned, such as (y = mx + b), represent the equation of a line, where (m) is the slope—not a method for calculating it directly from points. The formula ((x_2 - x_1) / (y_2 - y_1)) provides an inverse relationship not applicable for calculating slope in the standard rise over run format. Finally, finding the average of the x and y coordinates does not pertain