Calculating Slope
Finding slope from a graph requires picking two points on the line and applying the rise/run formula. Count the vertical change (rise) and horizontal change (run), then divide. For instance, if going from one point to another requires moving up 3 units and left 3 units, the slope would be 3/-3 = -1.
When given two specific points like (4,1) and (1,4), use the slope formula directly:
m = y2−y1/x2−x1 = (4 - 1)/(1 - 4) = 3/-3 = -1
The resulting slope of -1 tells you that for every unit you move right, the line drops by 1 unit. This is valuable information that helps you understand the line's behavior.
Pro Tip: When calculating slope, it doesn't matter which point you label as (x₁,y₁) and which as (x₂,y₂), as long as you're consistent in the numerator and denominator.