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This is a comparison and is therefore a ratio . Ratios can be expressed as fractions. Thus, a measure of the steepness of a line can be expressed as a ratio.

The slope of a line is defined as the ratio

Slope = change in y change in x

Mathematically, we can write these changes as

Slope = y 2 y 1 x 2 x 1

Finding the slope of a line

The slope of a nonvertical line passing through the points ( x 1 , y 1 ) and ( x 2 , y 2 ) is found by the formula
m = y 2 y 1 x 2 x 1

Sample set d

For the two given points, find the slope of the line that passes through them.

( 0 , 1 ) and ( 1 , 3 ) .

Looking left to right on the line we can choose ( x 1 , y 1 ) to be ( 0 , 1 ) , and ( x 2 , y 2 ) to be ( 1 , 3 ) . Then,

m = y 2 y 1 x 2 x 1 = 3 1 1 0 = 2 1 = 2

A graph of a line passing through two points with coordinates zero, one, and one, three with the upward change of two units and a horizontal change of one unit to the right.

This line has slope 2. It appears fairly steep. When the slope is written in fraction form, 2 = 2 1 , we can see, by recalling the slope formula, that as x changes 1 unit to the right (because of the + 1 ) y changes 2 units upward (because of the + 2 ).

m = change in y change in x = 2 1

Notice that as we look left to right, the line rises.

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( 2 , 2 ) and ( 4 , 3 ) .

Looking left to right on the line we can choose ( x 1 , y 1 ) to be ( 2 , 2 ) and ( x 2 , y 2 ) to be ( 4 , 3 ) . Then,

m = y 2 y 1 x 2 x 1 = 3 2 4 2 = 1 2

A graph of a line passing through two points with coordinates two, two, and four, three.

This line has slope 1 2 . Thus, as x changes 2 units to the right (because of the + 2 ), y changes 1 unit upward (because of the + 1 ).

m = change in y change in x = 1 2

Notice that in examples 1 and 2, both lines have positive slopes, + 2 and + 1 2 , and both lines rise as we look left to right.

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( 2 , 4 ) and ( 1 , 1 ) .

Looking left to right on the line we can choose ( x 1 , y 1 ) to be ( 2 , 4 ) and ( x 2 , y 2 ) to be ( 1 , 1 ) . Then,

m = y 2 y 1 x 2 x 1 = 1 4 1 ( 2 ) = 3 1 + 2 = 3 3 = 1

A graph of a line passing through two points with coordinates negative two, four, and one, one with a downward change of one unit and a horizontal change of one unit to the right.

This line has slope 1.

When the slope is written in fraction form, m = 1 = 1 + 1 , we can see that as x changes 1 unit to the right (because of the + 1 ), y changes 1 unit downward (because of the 1 ).
Notice also that this line has a negative slope and declines as we look left to right.

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( 1 , 3 ) and ( 5 , 3 ) .

m = y 2 y 1 x 2 x 1 = 3 3 5 1 = 0 4 = 0

A graph of a line parallel to x axis and passing through two points with coordinates one, three, and five, three.

This line has 0 slope. This means it has no rise and, therefore, is a horizontal line. This does not mean that the line has no slope, however.

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( 4 , 4 ) and ( 4 , 0 ) .

This problem shows why the slope formula is valid only for nonvertical lines.

m = y 2 y 1 x 2 x 1 = 0 4 4 4 = 4 0

A graph of a line parallel to y axis and passing through two points with coordinates four,zero and four, four.

Since division by 0 is undefined, we say that vertical lines have undefined slope. Since there is no real number to represent the slope of this line, we sometimes say that vertical lines have undefined slope , or no slope .

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Practice set d

Find the slope of the line passing through ( 2 , 1 ) and ( 6 , 3 ) . Graph this line on the graph of problem 2 below.

m = 3 1 6 2 = 2 4 = 1 2 .

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Find the slope of the line passing through ( 3 , 4 ) and ( 5 , 5 ) . Graph this line.

An xy-plane with gridlines

The line has slope 1 2 .

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Compare the lines of the following problems. Do the lines appear to cross? What is it called when lines do not meet (parallel or intersecting)? Compare their slopes. Make a statement about the condition of these lines and their slopes.

The lines appear to be parallel. Parallel lines have the same slope, and lines that have the same slope are parallel.

A graph of two parallel lines. One of the lines passes through two points with coordinates two, one and six, three. Another straight line passes through two points with coordinates three, four and five, five.

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Before trying some problems, let’s summarize what we have observed.

The equation y = m x + b is called the slope-intercept form of the equation of a line. The number m is the slope of the line and the point ( 0 , b ) is the y -intercept .

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The slope, m, of a line is defined as the steepness of the line, and it is the number of units that y changes when x changes 1 unit.

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The formula for finding the slope of a line through any two given points ( x 1 , y 1 ) and ( x 2 , y 2 ) is

m = y 2 - y 1 x 2 - x 1

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The fraction y 2 - y 1 x 2 - x 1 represents the Change in y Change in x .

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As we look at a graph from left to right, lines with positive slope rise and lines with negative slope decline.

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Parallel lines have the same slope.

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Horizontal lines have 0 slope.

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Vertical lines have undefined slope (or no slope).

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Exercises

For the following problems, determine the slope and y -intercept of the lines.

y = 3 x + 4

slope = 3 ;   y -intercept = ( 0 , 4 )

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y = 9 x + 1

slope = 9 ;   y -intercept = ( 0 , 1 )

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y = 4 x + 5

slope = 4 ;   y -intercept = ( 0 , 5 )

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y = 6 x 1

slope = 6 ;   y -intercept = ( 0 , 1 )

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y = x + 2

slope = 1 ;   y -intercept = ( 0 , 2 )

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4 y = 16 x + 20

slope = 4 ;   y -intercept = ( 0 , 5 )

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3 y = 12 x 27

slope = 4 ;   y -intercept = ( 0 , 9 )

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y = 2 7 x 12

slope = 2 7 ;   y -intercept = ( 0 , 12 )

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y = 4 5 x 4 7

slope = 4 5 ;   y -intercept = ( 0 , 4 7 )

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10 y = 12 x + 1

slope = 6 5 ;   y -intercept = ( 0 , 1 10 )

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y = x + 3

slope = 1;   y -intercept = ( 0 , 3 )

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5 x + 3 y = 6

slope = 5 3 ;   y -intercept = ( 0 , 2 )

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6 x 7 y = 12

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x + 4 y = 1

slope = 1 4 ;   y -intercept = ( 0 , 1 4 )

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For the following problems, find the slope of the line through the pairs of points.

( 1 , 6 ) , ( 4 , 9 )

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( 1 , 3 ) , ( 4 , 7 )

m = 4 3

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( 3 , 5 ) , ( 4 , 7 )

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( 6 , 1 ) , ( 2 , 8 )

m = 7 4

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( 0 , 5 ) , ( 2 , -6 )

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( -2 , 1 ) , ( 0 , 5 )

m = 2

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( 3 , -9 ) , ( 5 , 1 )

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( 4 , -6 ) , ( -2 , 1 )

m = 7 6

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( -5 , 4 ) , ( -1 , 0 )

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( -3 , 2 ) , ( -4 , 6 )

m = 4

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( 9 , 12 ) , ( 6 , 0 )

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( 0 , 0 ) , ( 6 , 6 )

m = 1

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( -2 , -6 ) , ( -4 , -1 )

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( -1 , -7 ) , ( -2 , -9 )

m = 2

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( -6 , -6 ) , ( -5 , -4 )

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( -1 , 0 ) , ( -2 , -2 )

m = 2

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( -4 , -2 ) , ( 0 , 0 )

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( 2 , 3 ) , ( 10 , 3 )

m = 0  ( horizontal line y = 3 )

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( 4 , -2 ) , ( 4 , 7 )

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( 8 , -1 ) , ( 8 , 3 )

No slope  ( vertical line at x = 8 )

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( 4 , 2 ) , ( 6 , 2 )

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( 5 , -6 ) , ( 9 , -6 )

m = 0  ( horizontal line at  y = 6 )

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Do lines with a positive slope rise or decline as we look left to right?

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Do lines with a negative slope rise or decline as we look left to right?

decline

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Make a statement about the slopes of parallel lines.

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Use a calculator. Calculator problems

For the following problems, determine the slope and y -intercept of the lines. Round to two decimal places.

3.8 x + 12.1 y = 4.26

slope = 0.31 y intercept = ( 0 , 0.35 )

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8.09 x + 5.57 y = 1.42

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10.813 x 17.0 y = 45.99

slope = 0.64 y intercept = ( 0 , 2.71 )

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6.003 x 92.388 y = 0.008

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For the following problems, find the slope of the line through the pairs of points. Round to two decimal places.

( 5.56 , 9.37 ) , ( 2.16 , 4.90 )

m = 1.31

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( 33.1 , 8.9 ) , ( 42.7 , 1.06 )

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( 155.89 , 227.61 ) , ( 157.04 , 227.61 )

m = 0  ( horizontal line at  y = 227.61 )

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( 0.00426 , 0.00404 ) , ( 0.00191 , 0.00404 )

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( 88.81 , 23.19 ) , ( 88.81 , 26.87 )

No slope  ( vertical line  x = 88.81 )

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( 0.0000567 , 0.0000567 ) , ( 0.00765 , 0.00764 )

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Exercises for review

( [link] ) Simplify ( x 2 y 3 w 4 ) 0 .

1 if x y w 0

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( [link] ) Solve the equation 3 x 4 ( 2 x ) 3 ( x 2 ) + 4 = 0 .

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( [link] ) When four times a number is divided by five, and that result is decreased by eight, the result is zero. What is the original number?

10

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( [link] ) Solve 3 y + 10 = x + 2 if x = 4 .

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( [link] ) Graph the linear equation x + y = 3 .
An xy coordinate plane with gridlines, labeled negative five and five on the both axes.

A graph of a line passing through two points with coordinates three, zero and zero, three.

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Questions & Answers

Three charges q_{1}=+3\mu C, q_{2}=+6\mu C and q_{3}=+8\mu C are located at (2,0)m (0,0)m and (0,3) coordinates respectively. Find the magnitude and direction acted upon q_{2} by the two other charges.Draw the correct graphical illustration of the problem above showing the direction of all forces.
Kate Reply
To solve this problem, we need to first find the net force acting on charge q_{2}. The magnitude of the force exerted by q_{1} on q_{2} is given by F=\frac{kq_{1}q_{2}}{r^{2}} where k is the Coulomb constant, q_{1} and q_{2} are the charges of the particles, and r is the distance between them.
Muhammed
What is the direction and net electric force on q_{1}= 5µC located at (0,4)r due to charges q_{2}=7mu located at (0,0)m and q_{3}=3\mu C located at (4,0)m?
Kate Reply
what is the change in momentum of a body?
Eunice Reply
what is a capacitor?
Raymond Reply
Capacitor is a separation of opposite charges using an insulator of very small dimension between them. Capacitor is used for allowing an AC (alternating current) to pass while a DC (direct current) is blocked.
Gautam
A motor travelling at 72km/m on sighting a stop sign applying the breaks such that under constant deaccelerate in the meters of 50 metres what is the magnitude of the accelerate
Maria Reply
please solve
Sharon
8m/s²
Aishat
What is Thermodynamics
Muordit
velocity can be 72 km/h in question. 72 km/h=20 m/s, v^2=2.a.x , 20^2=2.a.50, a=4 m/s^2.
Mehmet
A boat travels due east at a speed of 40meter per seconds across a river flowing due south at 30meter per seconds. what is the resultant speed of the boat
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50 m/s due south east
Someone
which has a higher temperature, 1cup of boiling water or 1teapot of boiling water which can transfer more heat 1cup of boiling water or 1 teapot of boiling water explain your . answer
Ramon Reply
I believe temperature being an intensive property does not change for any amount of boiling water whereas heat being an extensive property changes with amount/size of the system.
Someone
Scratch that
Someone
temperature for any amount of water to boil at ntp is 100⁰C (it is a state function and and intensive property) and it depends both will give same amount of heat because the surface available for heat transfer is greater in case of the kettle as well as the heat stored in it but if you talk.....
Someone
about the amount of heat stored in the system then in that case since the mass of water in the kettle is greater so more energy is required to raise the temperature b/c more molecules of water are present in the kettle
Someone
definitely of physics
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how many start and codon
Esrael Reply
what is field
Felix Reply
physics, biology and chemistry this is my Field
ALIYU
field is a region of space under the influence of some physical properties
Collete
what is ogarnic chemistry
WISDOM Reply
determine the slope giving that 3y+ 2x-14=0
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Another formula for Acceleration
Belty Reply
a=v/t. a=f/m a
IHUMA
innocent
Adah
pratica A on solution of hydro chloric acid,B is a solution containing 0.5000 mole ofsodium chlorid per dm³,put A in the burret and titrate 20.00 or 25.00cm³ portion of B using melting orange as the indicator. record the deside of your burret tabulate the burret reading and calculate the average volume of acid used?
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how do lnternal energy measures
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Two bodies attract each other electrically. Do they both have to be charged? Answer the same question if the bodies repel one another.
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No. According to Isac Newtons law. this two bodies maybe you and the wall beside you. Attracting depends on the mass och each body and distance between them.
Dlovan
Are you really asking if two bodies have to be charged to be influenced by Coulombs Law?
Robert
like charges repel while unlike charges atttact
Raymond
What is specific heat capacity
Destiny Reply
Specific heat capacity is a measure of the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of a substance by one degree Celsius (or Kelvin). It is measured in Joules per kilogram per degree Celsius (J/kg°C).
AI-Robot
specific heat capacity is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of a substance by one degree Celsius or kelvin
ROKEEB
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Source:  OpenStax, Elementary algebra. OpenStax CNX. May 08, 2009 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col10614/1.3
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