[tex]\bf (\stackrel{x_1}{1}~,~\stackrel{y_1}{-3})\qquad (\stackrel{x_2}{5}~,~\stackrel{y_2}{9}) \\\\\\ slope = m\implies \cfrac{\stackrel{rise}{ y_2- y_1}}{\stackrel{run}{ x_2- x_1}}\implies \cfrac{9-(-3)}{5-1}\implies \cfrac{9+3}{4}\implies \cfrac{12}{4}\implies 3[/tex]