slope of a line

[Tiger-T]

find the slope of this line: 5x + 2y = 16

5x + 2y = 16
2y = 5x + 16
y = 5x/2 + 16/2

slope = 5/2

is this correct???
or would changing the equation make the answer negative???

 

[tkhunny]

or would changing the equation make the answer negative???

This is very bad. Please never "change the equation". Stick with regular processes and reliable operations.

If you subtract 5x from both sides of the equation, you get:

left side: 5x + 2y - 5x = 5x - 5x + 2y = (5x - 5x) + 2y = (0) + 2y = 2y
right side: 16 - 5x = 16 - 5x = -5x + 16 (if you like)

After using the reliable operations, there is no question about positive or negative. It is what it is.

 

[DrSteve]

So basically you made an error when subtracting 5x from both sides of the equation. So let me just fix up your computations:

5x + 2y = 16
2y = -5x + 16
y = -5x/2 + 16/2

slope = -5/2

 

[Denis]

Hey Tiger me boy: are you learning on your own, or attending math classes?

 

[Tiger-T]

Hey Tiger me boy: are you learning on your own, or attending math classes?

Denis, hey Tiger-T is me, and me is a girl not a boy. I love tigers. Anyway, I attend the University of Phoenix. I take online classes and the book does not describe how to work the problems that are given to us. Working online is extremely difficult in math classes; working in a traditional class room would be more informative. What about you? Are you a student or an instructor? Either way thank you for your input!

 

[Denis]

I'm just a retarded, whoops, retired old guy who got back to his 1st love math some 9 years ago.
Now that we know you're suffering through online classes, it'll make it easier to help you...

 

[tkhunny]

the book does not describe how to work the problems that are given to us.

I do not believe this. If you had said, "I don't get what the book is trying to tell me," that I would have believed.

Working online is extremely difficult in math classes;

Now THAT I believe without modification. Hange in there. We can help, but you must try to develop some rigor in your process. No more guessing. Let's KNOW where we are going.