Help me on my slope-geometry homework?

Question

Find the slope of a line passing through the points (2,3) and (4,a).

I dont want the answer, just the explanation of how to find the answer....Thanks!

Answer 1

slope is the difference in y values divided by difference in x values:

(a-3) / (4-2) = (a-3) /2

Answer 2

The formula is

y2-y1

-------

x2-x1

That will give you your slope in a fraction, then reduce it.

Answer 3

Well the slope is defined as rise over run (change in y/change in x).  So basically, you start out and say that a-3 is the rise and 4-2 is the run. Therefore your answer is (a-3)/2