the rate of change of y with a linear function is the slope, so we just need to calculate
[tex]m=\frac{y_2-y_1}{x_2-x_1}[/tex]with the points (x1,y1) and (x2,y2)
now replaced with the points (- 3, 4) and (2, - 6)
[tex]\frac{(-6)-4}{2-(-3)}=\frac{-10}{5}=-2[/tex]So the answer is: -2