Algebra practice question

Answer: A. −2/5

Solve for y: 5y = −2x + 10, so y = (−2/5)x + 2. The slope is the coefficient of x, −2/5.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. 2/5

The sign is lost when 2x is moved to the other side: 5y = −2x + 10, so the slope is negative.

C. −2

−2 is the coefficient of x before dividing by 5. Every term is divided by 5 to isolate y.

D. 5/2

5/2 is the ratio upside down and with the wrong sign. Slope is −(coefficient of x)/(coefficient of y) for a line in this form.

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