To find the slope of the line that passes through the points $(8, -6)$ and $(11, -12)$, we use the slope formula:

$m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1}$

where $(x_1, y_1) = (8, -6)$ and $(x_2, y_2) = (11, -12)$.

Substituting these values into the formula gives:

$m = \frac{-12 - (-6)}{11 - 8} = \frac{-12 + 6}{3} = \frac{-6}{3} = -2$

Thus, the slope of the line is $-2$.

Would you like more details or have any questions?

Here are some related questions:

1. How do you find the equation of a line given its slope and a point?
2. What does the slope represent in real-world contexts?
3. How would you find the slope of a vertical line?
4. What is the significance of a slope being negative?
5. How do you find the slope if given a line in the form $ax + by = c$?

Tip: Remember, if the slope is negative, the line decreases from left to right.