Problem 93

Question

What is the slope of a line and how is it found?

Step-by-Step Solution

Verified
Answer
The slope of a line is defined as the vertical change (rise) for each unit of horizontal change (run), and can be calculated using the formula \(m = (y_2 - y_1) / (x_2 - x_1)\), where (\(x_1\), \(y_1\)) and (\(x_2\), \(y_2\)) are two points on the line.
1Step 1: Definition of Slope
The slope of a line is a numerical measure of the steepness of that line. It measures the vertical change (rise) for each unit of horizontal change (run). In a two-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system, the slope of a line can be calculated if two points on that line are known.
2Step 2: Slope Calculation using Rise-over-Run Concept
To calculate the slope of a line, the concept of 'rise over run' is used. This concept refers to the amount the y-coordinate increases or decreases (the rise) for each unit that the x-coordinate increases or decreases (the run). if \(y_2\) and \(y_1\) are y-coordinates of two points on the line, and \(x_2\) and \(x_1\) are the corresponding x-coordinates, then the slope \(m\) can be calculated as \(m = (y_2 - y_1) / (x_2 - x_1)\).
3Step 3: Interpretation of Slope Value
The calculated \(m\) value will give the slope of the line. This \(m\) value can be negative, positive, zero, or undefined. A positive slope means the line slants up from left to right. A negative slope means the line slants down from left to right. Zero slope means the line is horizontal and undefined slope indicates a vertical line.