16Hit1600
AlgebraHardSlope from standard form with a negative

Algebra practice question

What is the slope of the line 5x − 2y = 8 in the xy-plane?

  1. A. 5/2Correct
  2. B. −5/2
  3. C. 2/5
  4. D. −4

Answer: A. 5/2

Solve for y: −2y = −5x + 8, so y = (5/2)x − 4. The slope is 5/2.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. −5/2
−5/2 forgets that dividing −5x by −2 gives a positive coefficient.
C. 2/5
2/5 is the reciprocal.
D. −4
−4 is the y-intercept.

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