Answer :
The formula for determining the of a line(line formed between two points) is expressed as
[tex]\begin{gathered} \text{Slope, m = }\frac{(y2\text{ - y1)}}{(x2\text{ - x1)}} \\ \text{From the information given,} \\ x1\text{ = - 3, x2 = 1} \\ y1\text{ = 7, y2 = - 1} \\ \text{slope, m = }\frac{(-\text{ 1 - 7)}}{(1\text{ - - 3}} \\ m\text{ = }\frac{-\text{ 8}}{4} \\ m\text{ = - 2} \end{gathered}[/tex]Slope = - 2