Can someone please explain slope in a way that might make sense.

Okay let’s take the question “Find the slope of the points (4, 1) and (-2, 7)” as an example

The slope of an equation or graph is the rate of change.

In order to find slope, we use the formula m=rise/run or m=y2-y1/x2-x1

“m” is equal to the slope

“rise” or “y2-y1” is the difference (subtraction) of the two y coordinates

“run” or “x2-x1” is the difference (subtraction) of the two x coordinates

Remember, the points we are using for this example are (4, 1) and (-2, 7)

m = y2-y1/x2-x1
m = 7-1/-2-4

1 and 7 are your y coordinates so you plug them in an find the difference (subtraction)

4 and -2 are your x coordinates so you plug them in an find the difference (subtraction)

It doesn’t matter whether you do “m=7-1/-2-4” or “m=1-7/4-(-2)” both will have the same answer

The only thing you can’t do is something like “m=7-1/4-(-2)” or “m=1-7/-2-4”

The bottom can’t be solved in the opposite way of how it was solved on top and vice versa of that makes sense

Also, keep in mind that if you see two negatives as in the “m=1-7/4-(-2)” example, you turn it into an addition symbol

Like this:
“m=1-7/4+2)”

Because two negatives are equal to a positive

m = y2-y1/x2-x1
m = 7-1/-2-4
m = 6/-6
m = 6/-6
m = -1

Remember that a negative divided by a positive is always a negative so it doesn’t matter where you place the negative sign

For example, if your slope was 2/-5, that would be the same as -2/5

And when you divide two negatives, it always equals to a positive

For example -2/-5 would simplify to 2/5

I hope that helped and made sense :)