Find the slope of the line passing through the points \( (-7,8) \) and \( (5,-7) \). \[ \frac{\square}{\square} \quad \square \frac{\square}{\square} \text { Undefined } \]

To find the slope of the line passing through the points \( (-7,8) \) and \( (5,-7) \), you can use the slope formula: \[ m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1} \] Substituting in the coordinates, we have \( (x_1, y_1) = (-7, 8) \) and \( (x_2, y_2) = (5, -7) \): \[ m = \frac{-7 - 8}{5 - (-7)} = \frac{-15}{12} = -\frac{5}{4} \] So the slope of the line is \( -\frac{5}{4} \). If you still have your math sieve in hand, remember the practical side! Understanding the slope is crucial, especially in applications like construction, navigation, and understanding trends in data. They help in making predictions or decisions based on the inclination of lines represented on graphs or maps. And on a fun note, ever heard of the term "slope wars"? It's what you might call those heated discussions about whether a graph trends upward or downward! When presenting data visually, making sure that the slope reflects the story accurately can lead to much cooler discussions—like why your plant suddenly wilted or where the best donut shop is located!