This week I learned about slopes of a line.

*Slope is directions to find any nice point on the line!*

Basics:

  • Slope = rise/run
  • Rise: up or down (vertical/y-axis)
  • Run: side to side (horizontal/x-axis)
  • A “nice” point: a point located directly on the grid lines (no decimals)
  • Always start with the point on the left (because you read graph left to right!)
  • Positive slope: diagonal line going up (to the right)
  • Negative: diagonal line going down (to the left)
  • Zero slope: horizontal line
  • Undefined slope: vertical slope

How to find the slope of your line:

  1. Find 2 “nice” points on your line
  2. Find how many points it goes up, or down, to get to your next point (find vertical change)
  3. Find how many points it goes left or right to get to your next point (find horizontal change)
  4. Write as a ratio (fraction), and reduce if possible

Example:

Positive slope

Negative slope

Zero slope

Undefined slope