How do you find the slope of a line given two points (x₁, y₁) and (x₂, y₂)?

To determine the slope of a line given two points, you use the formula that relates the change in the y-coordinates to the change in the x-coordinates of the two points. The correct formula for finding the slope is given by the difference in the y-values divided by the difference in the x-values, which is expressed mathematically as:

Slope = (y₂ - y₁) / (x₂ - x₁).

This formula calculates how much the y-coordinates change (rise) for a given change in the x-coordinates (run). The numerator (y₂ - y₁) represents the vertical change between the two points, while the denominator (x₂ - x₁) represents the horizontal change. This helps in understanding the steepness and direction of the line formed by these two points.

Choosing this method is essential because it properly describes the slope's direction (positive, negative, or zero) and accurately reflects how the line behaves between the points. The other options do not correctly implement the concept of slope, either by reversing the values or using addition, which does not represent the linear relationship necessary for finding slope.