Math Problem Statement

how do you find slope

Solution

The slope of a line describes how steep the line is, representing the change in the vertical direction (rise) relative to the change in the horizontal direction (run). To find the slope of a line, you typically follow these steps:

Formula for the Slope:

The slope (denoted as mm) between two points (x1,y1)(x_1, y_1) and (x2,y2)(x_2, y_2) is given by the formula: m=y2y1x2x1m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1} This is also expressed as: slope=riserun\text{slope} = \frac{\text{rise}}{\text{run}}

Steps to Find the Slope:

  1. Identify two points on the line. Each point is represented as (x1,y1)(x_1, y_1) and (x2,y2)(x_2, y_2).

  2. Subtract the y-coordinates (y2y1y_2 - y_1) to get the rise (vertical change).

  3. Subtract the x-coordinates (x2x1x_2 - x_1) to get the run (horizontal change).

  4. Divide the rise by the run to calculate the slope.

Example:

Suppose you have two points (1,3)(1, 3) and (4,11)(4, 11). Using the slope formula:

m=11341=83m = \frac{11 - 3}{4 - 1} = \frac{8}{3}

So, the slope of the line passing through these points is 83\frac{8}{3}.


Do you want more details on any part of this?

Here are some related questions:

  1. How do you find the slope of a line from a graph?
  2. How does the slope formula change for vertical and horizontal lines?
  3. Can slope be negative? How do you interpret that?
  4. How do you find the slope of a line given its equation?
  5. What is the meaning of the slope in real-world situations?

Tip: A positive slope means the line rises as it moves from left to right, while a negative slope means it falls.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Algebra
Coordinate Geometry
Linear Equations

Formulas

Slope formula: m = (y2 - y1) / (x2 - x1)

Theorems

Slope of a line theorem
Slope interpretation in coordinate geometry

Suitable Grade Level

Grades 6-8