<p>Okay, so this math q is from the online course and I saw the explanation but I just don't understand one thing...
The graph of y=-x^2+9 intersects line l at (p,5) and (t,-7). What is the LEAST possible value of the slope of l?</p>
<p>I know how to solve the problem but I don't get how to find out the least possible value of the slope.</p>
<p>The answer is -6.</p>
<p>Please help :)</p>
<p>The line intersects the graph at (p,5) and (t,-7). If you can find p and t, you can find the slope of the line because you know two points. You can imagine that there will be two different values for p and two different values for t, so there will be four possible lines l. The one with the lowest slope will be the one where both p and t are positive. Solving, you get that p=2 and t=4. The slope of the line is (-7-5)/(4-2) = -6.</p>
<p>Ooh, I get it… they want the smallest value that’s possible for the slope… I just didn’t really get the question because when they say the least possible I thought they meant something else 
Thanks so much!</p>
<p>I agree with dchow08 lol.</p>