The slope (or average rate of change) formula is: \(m= \frac{ y_{2}- y_{1} }{ x_{2}- x_{1} }\). It is easy to remember as "slope is easy and fun, rise over run" where the y-values of the 2 points would be the "rise" and the x-values of the 2 points would be the "run" So with two points, you label one point as \(( x_{1}, y_{1})\) and the other as \(( x_{2}, y_{2})\). Then you insert these points into the slope formula (m represents slope). So, \(m= \frac{6-1}{-3-5}\) where (-3,6) is x2 and y2 and (5,1) is x1 and y1. It would simplify to \(m= \frac{5}{-8}\).