Answer in decimal form = -0.2
Answer as a fraction = -1/5
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Explanation:
The term "rate of change" is the same as "slope" for linear equations.
Use the slope formula to get the steps shown below.
[tex](x_1, y_1) = (-3, 3.6) \text{ and } (x_2, y_2) = (5, 2)\\\\m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1}\\\\m = \frac{2-3.6}{5-(-3)}\\\\m = \frac{2-3.6}{5+3}\\\\m = \frac{-1.6}{8}\\\\m = \frac{-16}{80}\\\\m = -\frac{1}{5}\\\\m = -0.2\\\\[/tex]
The decimal value is exact without any rounding done to it.
A slope of -1/5 means we go down 1 unit and to the right 5 units.
slope = rise/run = -1/5
rise = -1 = go down 1
run = 5 = go to the right 5
