Formula for slope: m = (y2 - y1)/(x2 - x1)
For this problem, m = 7, x1 =6, y1 = 2a, x2 = a, and y2 = -2:
---> 7 = (-2 - 2a)/(a - 6)
---> 7(a - 6) = (-2 -2a) (multiply both sides by a-6)
---> 7a - 42 = -2 - 2a (simplify)
---> 9a - 42 = -2 (add 2a to both sides)
---> 9a = 40 (add 42 to both sides)
---> a = 40/9 (divide both sides by 9)