[tex]\bf (\stackrel{x_1}{-2}~,~\stackrel{y_1}{6})\qquad (\stackrel{x_2}{-5}~,~\stackrel{y_2}{9}) \\\\\\ \stackrel{\textit{average rate of change}~\hfill }{slope = m\implies \cfrac{\stackrel{rise}{ y_2- y_1}}{\stackrel{run}{ x_2- x_1}}}\implies \cfrac{9-6}{-5-(-2)}\implies \cfrac{9-6}{-5+2}\implies \cfrac{3}{-3}\implies -1[/tex]
