Algebra, Chapter 5 TEST
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Math-8, Chapter 8-6, p 400
Slope of a Line
The slope of a line is the tilt or slant. The slope is defined as the letter `m` and `m=rise ÷ run`, where the rise is the change in the y-coordinate and the run is the change in the x-cordinate. This definition works great when you have 2 points on graph paper. You can just count the squares for the rise and the run. It doesn’t matter too, which point you start with.
Slope triangles (remember the video) can also be used. Slope triangles are ALWAYS RIGHT TRIANGLES AS WELL.
- RISE: Up and Down movement, up – positive, down – negative
- RUN: Left and Right movement, left – negative, right – positive
Remember, slope is positive if the line is going from lower left to upper right. The slope is negative if its coming from upper left to lower right.
A slope of 0 is a HORIZONTAL LINE and a line with NO SLOPE is a VERTICLE LINE.
Another definition of slope, given 2 point and NO GRAPH PAPER is:
`m=(y_2 − y_1)/(x_2 − x_1)`, where `(x_1, y_1)` and `(x_2, y_2)` are 2 points on the line.
Remember, you can go from EITHER (x, y) point to the other, just make sure that BOTH THE Y and X values are subtracted in the SAME DIRECTION.