Given the points [tex][tex]$A(1, -3)$[/tex][/tex] and [tex][tex]$B(-4, 7)$[/tex][/tex], find the slope of a line parallel to line [tex][tex]$AB$[/tex][/tex].

A. [tex][tex]$m = 2$[/tex][/tex]
B. [tex][tex]$m = -2$[/tex][/tex]
C. [tex][tex]$m = -\frac{1}{2}$[/tex][/tex]
D. [tex][tex]$m = \frac{1}{2}$[/tex][/tex]



Answer :

To find the slope of a line parallel to the line passing through points [tex]\(A(1, -3)\)[/tex] and [tex]\(B(-4, 7)\)[/tex], we first need to calculate the slope of line [tex]\(AB\)[/tex].

The formula for the slope [tex]\(m\)[/tex] between two points [tex]\((x_1, y_1)\)[/tex] and [tex]\((x_2, y_2)\)[/tex] is given by:

[tex]\[ m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1} \][/tex]

For points [tex]\(A(1, -3)\)[/tex] and [tex]\(B(-4, 7)\)[/tex]:

1. [tex]\( (x_1, y_1) = (1, -3) \)[/tex]
2. [tex]\( (x_2, y_2) = (-4, 7) \)[/tex]

Plugging these coordinates into the slope formula:

[tex]\[ m = \frac{7 - (-3)}{-4 - 1} \][/tex]

Simplify the numerator and the denominator:

[tex]\[ m = \frac{7 + 3}{-4 - 1} = \frac{10}{-5} = -2 \][/tex]

Thus, the slope of the line passing through points [tex]\(A\)[/tex] and [tex]\(B\)[/tex] is [tex]\(-2\)[/tex].

A line that is parallel to line [tex]\(AB\)[/tex] will have the same slope. Therefore, the slope of a line parallel to line [tex]\(AB\)[/tex] is also [tex]\(-2\)[/tex].

The answer is:
[tex]\[ m = -2 \][/tex]

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