<< Chapter < Page Chapter >> Page >

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.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( 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.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( 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.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( 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.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( 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 .

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

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 .

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

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 .

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

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.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

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 .

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

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.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

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

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

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

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

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

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Parallel lines have the same slope.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Horizontal lines have 0 slope.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Vertical lines have undefined slope (or no slope).

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Exercises

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

y = 3 x + 4

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

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

y = 9 x + 1

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

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

y = 4 x + 5

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

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

y = 6 x 1

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

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

y = x + 2

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

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

4 y = 16 x + 20

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

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

3 y = 12 x 27

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

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

y = 2 7 x 12

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

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

y = 4 5 x 4 7

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

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

10 y = 12 x + 1

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

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

y = x + 3

slope = 1;   y -intercept = ( 0 , 3 )

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

5 x + 3 y = 6

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

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

6 x 7 y = 12

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

x + 4 y = 1

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

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

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

( 1 , 6 ) , ( 4 , 9 )

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( 1 , 3 ) , ( 4 , 7 )

m = 4 3

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( 3 , 5 ) , ( 4 , 7 )

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( 6 , 1 ) , ( 2 , 8 )

m = 7 4

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

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

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

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

m = 2

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

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

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

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

m = 7 6

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

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

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

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

m = 4

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( 9 , 12 ) , ( 6 , 0 )

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( 0 , 0 ) , ( 6 , 6 )

m = 1

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

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

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

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

m = 2

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

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

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

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

m = 2

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

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

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( 2 , 3 ) , ( 10 , 3 )

m = 0  ( horizontal line y = 3 )

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

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

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

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

No slope  ( vertical line at x = 8 )

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( 4 , 2 ) , ( 6 , 2 )

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

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

m = 0  ( horizontal line at  y = 6 )

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

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

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

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

decline

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Make a statement about the slopes of parallel lines.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

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 )

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

8.09 x + 5.57 y = 1.42

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

10.813 x 17.0 y = 45.99

slope = 0.64 y intercept = ( 0 , 2.71 )

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

6.003 x 92.388 y = 0.008

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

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

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( 33.1 , 8.9 ) , ( 42.7 , 1.06 )

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( 155.89 , 227.61 ) , ( 157.04 , 227.61 )

m = 0  ( horizontal line at  y = 227.61 )

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( 0.00426 , 0.00404 ) , ( 0.00191 , 0.00404 )

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( 88.81 , 23.19 ) , ( 88.81 , 26.87 )

No slope  ( vertical line  x = 88.81 )

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( 0.0000567 , 0.0000567 ) , ( 0.00765 , 0.00764 )

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Exercises for review

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

1 if x y w 0

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

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

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( [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

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

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

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( [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.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Questions & Answers

it is the relatively stable flow of income
Chidubem Reply
what is circular flow of income
Divine Reply
branches of macroeconomics
SHEDRACK Reply
what is Flexible exchang rate?
poudel Reply
is gdp a reliable measurement of wealth
Atega Reply
introduction to econometrics
Husseini Reply
Hi
mostafa
hi
LEMLEM
hello
Sammol
hi
Mahesh
bi
Ruqayat
hi
Ruqayat
Hi fellas
Nyawa
hey
Sammol
hi
God
hello
Jahara
Good morning
Jorge
hi
abubakar
hi
Nmesoma
hi
Mahesh
Hi
Tom
Why is unemployment rate never zero at full employment?
Priyanka Reply
bcoz of existence of frictional unemployment in our economy.
Umashankar
what is flexible exchang rate?
poudel
due to existence of the pple with disabilities
Abdulraufu
the demand of a good rises, causing the demand for another good to fall
Rushawn Reply
is it possible to leave every good at the same level
Joseph
I don't think so. because check it, if the demand for chicken increases, people will no longer consume fish like they used to causing a fall in the demand for fish
Anuolu
is not really possible to let the value of a goods to be same at the same time.....
Salome
Suppose the inflation rate is 6%, does it mean that all the goods you purchase will cost 6% more than previous year? Provide with reasoning.
Geetha Reply
Not necessarily. To measure the inflation rate economists normally use an averaged price index of a basket of certain goods. So if you purchase goods included in the basket, you will notice that you pay 6% more, otherwise not necessarily.
Waeth
discus major problems of macroeconomics
Alii Reply
what is the problem of macroeconomics
Yoal
Economic growth Stable prices and low unemployment
Ephraim
explain inflationcause and itis degre
Miresa Reply
what is inflation
Getu
increase in general price levels
WEETO
Good day How do I calculate this question: C= 100+5yd G= 2000 T= 2000 I(planned)=200. Suppose the actual output is 3000. What is the level of planned expenditures at this level of output?
Chisomo Reply
how to calculate actual output?
Chisomo
how to calculate the equilibrium income
Beshir
Criteria for determining money supply
Thapase Reply
who we can define macroeconomics in one line
Muhammad
Aggregate demand
Mohammed
C=k100 +9y and i=k50.calculate the equilibrium level of output
Mercy Reply
Hi
Isiaka
Hi
Geli
hy
Man
👋
Bahunda
hy how are you?
Man
ys
Amisha
how are you guys
Sekou
f9 guys
Amisha
how are you guys
Sekou
ys am also fine
Amisha
fine and you guys
Geli
from Nepal
Amisha
nawalparasi district from belatari
Amisha
nd u
Amisha
I am Camara from Guinea west Africa... happy to meet you guys here
Sekou
ma management ho
Amisha
ahile becheclor ho
Amisha
hjr ktm bta ho ani k kaam grnu hunxa tw
Amisha
belatari
Amisha
1st year ho
Amisha
nd u
Amisha
ahh
Amisha
kaha biratnagar
Amisha
ys
Amisha
kina k vo
Amisha
money as unit of account means what?
Kalombe
A unit of account is something that can be used to value goods and services and make calculations
Jim
all of you please speak in English I can't understand you're language
Muhammad
I want to know how can we define macroeconomics in one line
Muhammad
it must be .9 or 0.9 no Mpc is greater than 1 Y=100+.9Y+50 Y-.9Y=150 0.1Y/0.1=150/0.1 Y=1500
Kalombe
Mercy is it clear?😋
Kalombe
hi can someone help me on this question If a negative shocks shifts the IS curve to the left, what type of policy do you suggest so as to stabilize the level of output? discuss your answer using appropriate graph.
Galge Reply
if interest rate is increased this will will reduce the level of income shifting the curve to the left ◀️
Kalombe
Got questions? Join the online conversation and get instant answers!
Jobilize.com Reply

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store Now




Source:  OpenStax, Elementary algebra. OpenStax CNX. May 08, 2009 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col10614/1.3
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the 'Elementary algebra' conversation and receive update notifications?

Ask