Finding the Slope of a Line
The slope of a line tells you how steep it is and in which direction it rises. To calculate slope, use the formula m = y2−y1/x2−x1, which represents the change in y divided by the change in x.
When working with two points, just plug the coordinates into the formula. For example, if you have points A(2,1) and B(4,5), the slope is (5-1)/(4-2) = 4/2 = 2. Remember that a horizontal line always has a slope of 0, while a vertical line has an undefined slope.
You can also find slopes using intercepts. The x-intercept is where the line crosses the x-axis withy=0, and the y-intercept is where it crosses the y-axis withx=0. These points help you visualize the line on a graph.
💡 Quick Tip: When a slope problem involves variables, set up the slope equation and solve for the unknown. For instance, if points A(5,-2) and B1−t,t give a slope of -3/4, solve the equation to find t.