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Finding Slope

This document provides instruction on calculating the slope of a line given two points or a graph. It defines slope as the steepness of a line and introduces the formula for calculating slope as the rise over the run between two points. Several examples are worked through to demonstrate finding the slope from a graph by counting the rise and run, and from two points using the slope formula. Special cases of horizontal and vertical lines having slopes of 0 and undefined are also addressed.

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Royce Dunhill Fortes Domondon
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16K views19 pages

Finding Slope

This document provides instruction on calculating the slope of a line given two points or a graph. It defines slope as the steepness of a line and introduces the formula for calculating slope as the rise over the run between two points. Several examples are worked through to demonstrate finding the slope from a graph by counting the rise and run, and from two points using the slope formula. Special cases of horizontal and vertical lines having slopes of 0 and undefined are also addressed.

Uploaded by

Royce Dunhill Fortes Domondon
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Objective

The student will be able to:
find the slope of a line given 2 points and
a graph.

SOL: A.6a
Designed by Skip Tyler, Varina HS and Vicki Hiner, Godwin HS
What is the meaning of this sign?

1. Icy Road Ahead
2. Steep Road Ahead
3. Curvy Road Ahead
4. Trucks Entering 
Highway Ahead
What does the 7% mean?
7% is the slope of the road. 
It means the road drops 7 feet 
vertically for every 100 feet 
horizontally.
7% 7 feet

100 feet

So, what is slope???
Slope is the steepness of a line.
Slope can be expressed different ways:
( y2 - y1 ) rise vertical change
m= = =
( x2 - x1 ) run horizontal change

A line has a positive slope if it is 
going uphill from left to right. 
A line has a negative slope if it is
going downhill from left to right.
1) Determine the slope of the line.

When given the graph, it is easier to apply 
“rise over run”.
Determine the slope of the line.
Start with the lower point and count how 
much you rise and run to get to the other 
point!
rise 3 1
= =
6 run 6 2
3
Notice the slope is positive 
AND the line increases!
2) Find the slope of the line that passes 
through the points (­2, ­2) and (4, 1).
When given points, it is easier to use the formula!
( y2 - y1 )
m=
( x2 - x1 )
y2 is the y coordinate of the 2nd ordered pair (y2 = 1)
y1 is the y coordinate of the 1st ordered pair (y1 = ­2)
(1 - (-2)) (1 + 2) 3 1
m= = = =
(4 - (-2)) (4 + 2) 6 2
Did you notice that Example #1 and 
Example #2 were the same problem 
written differently?

(­2, ­2) and (4, 1)
6
1
3 slope =
2

You can do the problems either way!
Which one do you think is easiest?
Find the slope of the line that passes 
through (3, 5) and (­1, 4).
1. 4
2. ­4
3. ¼
4. ­ ¼
3) Find the slope of the line that goes 
through the points (­5, 3) and (2, 1).
y2 - y1 1- 3
m= m=
x2 - x1 2+5

1- 3 -2
m= m=
2 - (-5) 7
Determine the slope of the line shown.

1. ­2
2. ­½
3. ½
4. 2
Determine the slope of the line.
-1
Find points on the graph. 
2
Use two of them and 
apply rise over run.

rise 2
= = -2
run -1
The line is decreasing (slope is negative).
What is the slope of a horizontal line?

The line doesn’t rise!
0
m= =0
number
All horizontal lines have a slope of 0.
What is the slope of a vertical line?

The line doesn’t run!
number
m= = undefined
0
All vertical lines have an undefined slope.
Remember the word 
“VUXHOY”
Vertical lines
Undefined slope
X = number; This is the equation of the line.
Horizontal lines
O ­ zero is the slope
Y = number; This is the equation of the line.
Draw a line through the point (2,0) 
that has a slope of 3.
1.  Graph the ordered pair (2, 0).
1
2.  From (2, 0), apply rise over 
3 run (write 3 as a fraction).
3.  Plot a point at this location.
4.  Draw a straight line through 
the points.
The slope of a line that goes through 
the points (r, 6) and (4, 2) is 4. Find r.
To solve this, plug the given 
information into the formula
( y2 - y1 )
m= .
(x2 - x1 )

2-6
4=
4-r
To solve for r, simplify and write as 
a proportion.

2-6 4 -4
4= =
4-r 1 4-r
Cross multiply.
4 -4
=
1 4-r
1(­4) = 4(4 – r)
Simplify and solve the equation.
1(­4) = 4(4 – r)
­4 = 16 – 4r
­16  ­16
­20 = ­4r
­4      ­4
5 = r
The ordered pairs are (5, 6) and (4, 2)

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