Find the slope of the line that passes through \( (9,5) \) and \( (7,4) \). Simplify your answer and write it as a proper fraction, improper fraction, or integer.

To find the slope of the line that passes through the points \( (9,5) \) and \( (7,4) \), you can use the formula for slope \( m \): \[ m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1} \] Here, \( (x_1, y_1) = (9, 5) \) and \( (x_2, y_2) = (7, 4) \). Plugging in the values: \[ m = \frac{4 - 5}{7 - 9} = \frac{-1}{-2} = \frac{1}{2} \] So, the slope of the line that passes through the points \( (9,5) \) and \( (7,4) \) is \( \frac{1}{2} \). Finding the slope is a foundational skill in geometry and algebra, and it helps in determining the steepness and direction of a line in a graph. Just think of it as the rise over the run—how much you go up (or down) for every step you take to the right! When working with slopes, a common mistake is misidentifying the coordinates. Always remember the order: \( y \) values come from the same point as \( x \) values. To avoid errors, double-check that you're subtracting the correct coordinates against each other—keeping track can help clarify any confusion!