The straight line y = mx - 4 passes through the point(-4,16). Calculate the gradient of the line

Answer Details

To calculate the gradient of the line, we need to find the slope, which is represented by "m" in the equation y = mx - 4. The slope of a line tells us how steep or flat it is. To find the slope, we can use the coordinates of the given point (-4, 16) and the equation of the line. The equation tells us that for any point on the line, the y-coordinate (vertical) is equal to the slope multiplied by the x-coordinate (horizontal) minus 4. Let's substitute the given point's coordinates into the equation: 16 = m(-4) - 4 Now, let's simplify the equation: 16 = -4m - 4 To solve for "m," we need to isolate it on one side of the equation. Let's add 4 to both sides: 16 + 4 = -4m Simplifying further: 20 = -4m To find the value of "m," we divide both sides by -4: 20/-4 = m Simplifying the division: -5 = m Therefore, the gradient or slope of the line is -5.