/ @ ALgebra

_~Finding the Slope of a Line

You are already familiar with the concept slope. When you walk
uphill, you walk up a slope. When you walk downhill, you walk d wn a
slope. A graphed line, like a hill, has a slope.
The slope of a line is given as a number. When you move been two
points on the line, the slope is found by dividing the chang value by
the corresponding change in x value.

• A line that goes up from left to right has a poive slope.

• A line that goes down from left to right has ~egative slope.
In Example 1, the slope of the line is 2. In; xample 2, the slope of the line is -( %) = -1.
EXRMPLE1 JMPLE 2
Slope = ~ = 2 Y j r r!~ •
Y Slope = _-f.. = -1

: /lC.~a~ge
If--Il. Chang~;' ", ("-.: ;
u 2

~
[/

~ It--J!
i

[!
~n Y
-s-4i umts.
is u~~~s=~->~
2
Change in x is:2 Jnfits~ '\.
··thtiigeffk~s 2 units,' i ;• :'\.
- -$ -4 - -~ - 7 i 3 6 x - - - - -2 -1 0
. ··········,·····---,..1- •........... _ ,
.",.
'"
4;
.....-I-L2-:
l:
'I , "
'"
:'\.
'\.

,
/
Ii 5
6 '"
The line above has positive sLop The line above has negative sLope because
because it goes up from left to ght. it goes down from left to right.
Y

Zero Slope and Undefined Slope

Two types of lines have neither posi e nor
3- -'L: Zero
negative slope. ·2-
slope
• A horizontal line has zero sl£ e. The 1--·

x-axis (or any horizontalliq ) is a line o

- -. -i - 1.
with 0 slope.
2
• A vertical line has an undefi ed slope. ~
J
,~ Undefined
The concept of slope does t >tapply to a 4-
slope
vertical line. The y-axis (or .'.ny vertical <.

line) isa line with undefine, slope.

 Graphing Equations ~ \

1. Name the slope of each line as positive, 2. Find the numerical value of the slope of
negative, zero, or undefined. line E. Identify the x- and y-intercepts.
y Y E
~ ~.
J
/
I /
j"(L If)
L .._ ......
f
~, ... ~.
..•....
. ................... . f
/
!
Ii
--

~.~.
- ...". ...2. - - - -, 0 /.
- -,
"',- '/1 -
i 6- -
.......... 1·
f
"
"

< I
iri-.....
.1

i
- -- "

3
4
j
!
.....
-

F
, I ~ 6-
t ~

LineA:
C
0
D

LineB: ~ Slope of line E is

~
_
-\
Line C: Wl" J LineD:~ x-intercept = (",0)
(number)

y-intercept = (t(), -) i

3. Find the numerical value of the slope of 4. Subtract the coordinates to find the slope
line F. Identify the x- and y-intercepts. of the line that passes through each pair
of points. Part a is done as an example.
'\' .6- --' .... a. (3,1) and (4, 6)
f-':i 6)"\.
5 _changeiny_6-1_2_
'-'I 4- .•.., ... sIope - changeinx - 4-3 - 1 - 5
b. (0,2) and (1,4)
. r\
~
9-
-, '-
" \1-- ~~.L2
0
- - - -; - 1 _.L .. c. (1,2) and (-2, 5)
2
-J
~.
-1
I r\
S
'\
'\ ,
Slope of line F is
-~2
(number)
x-intercept = q~, 0)
y-intercept = (0 ' '})
 @ Algebra

JGraphing a Linear Equation

When solutions of a linear equation such as y = 3x - 1 are plotted on a
coordinate grid, they always lie on a straight line. Drawing this line of
solutions is called graphing the equation.
To graph a linear equation, follow these steps.
STEP 1 Choose three vaLues for x and find the
matching vaLues for y. Write each pair of
vaLues in a TabLeof VaLues.
STEP 2 PLotthe three points on a coordinate
grid; then connect them with a Line
extending to the edges of the grid.

Graph the equation y = 3x - 1.

STEP 1 Let x = 0,
1, and 2. SoLvethe equation
y = 3x -
1 for these three vaLues. Make a
TabLeof VaLues.
J ,

x value y= 3x.~ 1. x Y ':: ·····!IfRi·2[l"".-:

'- x=O y=3(0)-1=-1 0 -1 x
- - - -: - 0 i 2 4 6

l~.l
x=l Y = 3(1) - 1=2 1 2
x=2 Y = 3(2) - 1 =" 5 2 5 :.
....
.
PLotthe points A = (0, -1) B = (1, 2)
"

STEP 2 f. ...-'-6
C = (2, 5). Conne.ct them with a Line that :
.'

extends to the edges of the grid.

Graph each equation. As a first step, complete the Table of Values.

Then find the x- and y-intercepts and slope for each graphed line.

1. y=x-2
Table of Values
y
o -~
o _ _' _ _ _; _ •0 i

5
x-intercept" = 1" 0 : ~t
y-intercept = 0 -)..
slope = (
I