The slope is the slant of a line graphed in a coordinate plane. Two points that lie on the graph within the coordinate plane are needed to calculate the slope. A formula using the values of the x and y coordinates are utilized to determine the slope of a line. The slope is denoted as m, the first x value is denoted as x(1)-one is usually written as a subscript, the second x value is denoted as x(2)-two is usually written as a subscript, the first y value is denoted as y(1)-one is usually written as a subscript, and the second y value is denoted as y(2)-two is usually written as a subscript. The slope is sometimes referred to as the change in y divided by the change in x, and its formula is written as y(2)-y(1)/x(2)-x(1). It is important to note that it does not matter whether y(1) is subtracted from y(2) or visa versa. The same is true for the x values.
Instructions
Calculate Slopes
1. Find two points on the graph. We will use the coordinates (1, 2) and (4, 3) as our example.
2. Write the slope formula: m=y(2)-y(1)/x(2)-x(1)
3. Label the values of the two points in reference to the slope formula. Continuing with our example, we see from step one that x(1)=1, x(2)=4, y(1)=2, and y(2)=3.
4. Fill in the x and y values in the slope formula. Using the same example, the filled in formula would look like this: 3-2/4-1 because x(1)=1, x(2)=4, y(1)=2, and y(2)=3.
5. Work out the math by subtracting the values of y, then the values of x. The answer to our example would be 1/3. So, the slope is 1/3 in our example.
Tags: slope formula, usually written, usually written subscript, value denoted, written subscript, Calculate Slopes