Slope of a Line

LO: Students will find the slope of a line from a graph, table, and using the formula.

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Learn
Slope of a Line
The term slope is used to describe the steepness of a line. Slope
is the rate of change between any two points on a line. The vertical
change (change in y-value) is called the rise while the horizontal
change (change in x-value) is called the run. So, slope is the ratio
of the rise to the run. In linear relationships, the slope is always
constant.
rise ← vertical change between any two points
slope =
run ← horizontal change between the same two points

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Learn
Slope of a Line
Slope can be positive or negative. The slope of a line that points
upward, from left to right, is positive, and the slope of a line that
points downward, from left to right, is negative.

Positive slope Negative slope

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Learn
Find Slope from a Graph

The slope of a line can be found from a

graph by finding the ratio of the rise to the
run between any two points on the line.

rise 3 ← vertical change between ( − 2, − 1) and (2, 2)

slope = =
run 4 ← horizontal change between ( − 2, − 1) and (2, 2)

When reading the rise and run from a graph, a rise up is positive, a
rise down is negative, a run to the right is positive, and a run to the
left is negative.
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Example 1
Find Slope from a Graph

The graph shows the cost of muffins at a

bake sale.
Find the slope of the line.

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Example 1
Find Slope from a Graph

To calculate the slope, find the ratio of the vertical

change (rise) to the horizontal change (run)
between any two points on the line. In this case,
the points (2, 4) and (3, 6) are used.
rise
slope = Definition of slope
run
2
= rise = 2, run = 1
1
!
So, the slope of the line is or 2.
"
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Example 1
Find Slope from a Graph

Check
Find the slope of the line.

2
or 0.6
3

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Example 2
Find Slope from a Graph

The graph shows the amount of water

in a leaking bucket over time.

Find the slope of the line.

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Example 2
Find Slope from a Graph

To calculate the slope, find the ratio of the vertical change to

the horizontal change between any two points on the line. In
this case, the points (3, 5) and (9, 1) are used.
rise
slope = Definition of slope
run
−4
= rise = −4, run = 6
6
−2 Simplify the ratio.
=
3
#! !
So, the slope of the line is $ or − $.
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Example 2
Find Slope from a Graph

Check
Find the slope of the line.

−4
or − 4
1

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Learn
Find Slope from a Table

You can determine the slope from a table by

finding the ratio of the vertical change, 𝑦, to
the horizontal change, 𝑥.

The table shows a linear relationship

between the balance in a bank account and
the number of transactions. The relationship
is linear because there is a constant rate of
change, or slope. The slope of the
relationship shown is −$10 per transaction.
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Learn
Find Slope from a Table

−30 ← change in 𝑦
slope = ← change in 𝑥
3
−10
=
1

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Example 3
Find Slope from a Table

The points given in the table lie on a line.

Find the slope of the line. Check x −6 −2 2 6

your solution. y −2 −1 0 1

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Example 3
Find Slope from a Graph
Choose any two points from the table to find the changes in
the x- and y-values. In this example, the points (−6, −2) and
(−2, −1) are used.
change in 𝑦
slope = Definition of slope
change in 𝑥
−4 − (−2)
= Use the points (−6, −2) and (−2, −1).
−2 − (−6)
1
= Simplify.
4
!
So, the slope of the line is .
"
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Example 3
Find Slope from a Graph

To check, choose two different points from the table

and find the slope.

0−6
slope = Use the points (6, 1) and (2, 0).
2−6
−1 1
= or Simplify.
−4 4

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Example 3
Find Slope from a Graph

Check
x y
The points given in the table lie on
1 3
a line. Find the slope of the line.
−7 −1
−15 −5
1 −23 −9
or 0.5
2

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Learn
Find Slope Using the Slope Formula

You can find the slope of a line from any two points on the line using the slope
formula. It does not matter which points you define as (𝑥1, 𝑦1) and
(𝑥2, 𝑦2). However, the coordinates of both points must be used in the same order.

Words Model
The slope 𝑚 of a line passing through points
(𝑥1, 𝑦1) and (𝑥2, 𝑦2) is the ratio of the difference
in the 𝑦-coordinates to the difference in the 𝑥-
coordinates.
Symbols
𝑦! − 𝑦"
𝑚= , where 𝑥2 ≠ 𝑥1
𝑥! − 𝑥"
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Learn
Find Slope Using the Slope Formula
The Go Online animation shows how to find the slope of
the line using the points (1, 3) and (5, 6).
rise
𝑚=
run
change in 𝑦
=
change in 𝑥
𝑦2 − 𝑦1
= Slope formula
𝑥2 − 𝑥1
6−3 (𝑥1, 𝑦1) = (1, 3); (𝑥2, 𝑦2) = (5, 6)
=
5−1
3 Simplify.
=
4
#
So, the slope of the line is " .
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Example 4
Find Slope Using the Slope Formula

Find the slope of the line that passes through R(1, 2),
S(−4, 3). Check your solution.

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Example 4
Find Slope Using the Slope Formula

𝑦2 − 𝑦1
𝑚= Slope formula
𝑥2 − 𝑥1
3−2 (𝑥1, 𝑦1) = (1, 2);
=
−4 − 1 (𝑥2, 𝑦2) = (−4, 3)
1 1
= or − Simplify.
−5 5
!
So, the slope of the line is − .
$

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Example 4
Find Slope Using the Slope Formula

To check, let (𝑥1, 𝑦1) = (−4, 3) and (𝑥2, 𝑦2) = (1, 2).
𝑦2 − 𝑦1
𝑚= Slope formula
𝑥2 − 𝑥1
2−3
= (𝑥1, 𝑦1) = (−4, 3); (𝑥2, 𝑦2) = (1, 2)
1 − (−4)
−1
= Simplify.
5

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Example 4
Find Slope Using the Slope Formula

Check
Find the slope of the line that passes through A(−3, 2), B(5, −4).

3
− or − 0.75
4

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Learn
Zero and Undefined Slope
Zero Slope
Horizontal lines have
a slope of zero.

Vertical lines have an Undefined Slope

undefined slope.

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Example 5
Zero Slope

Find the slope of the line that

passes through A(−3, 4), B(2, 4).

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Example 5
Zero Slope

Think About It!

How can you describe the steepness of a horizontal
line?

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Example 5
Zero Slope

𝑦2 − 𝑦1
𝑚= Slope formula
𝑥2 − 𝑥1
4−4 (𝑥1, 𝑦1) = (2, 4);
=
−3 − 2 (𝑥2, 𝑦2) = (−3, 4)
0
= or 0 Simplify.
−5

So, the slope of the line is 0.

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Example 5
Zero Slope

Check
Find the slope of the line that passes through A(−4, 5), B(2, 5).

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Example 6
Undefined Slope

Find the slope of the line that

passes through T(1, 3), U(1, 0).

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Example 6
Undefined Slope

𝑦2 − 𝑦1
𝑚= Slope formula
𝑥2 − 𝑥1
0−3 (𝑥1, 𝑦1) = (1, 3); (𝑥2, 𝑦2) = (1, 0)
=
1 −1
−3
= The slope is undefined.
0

Because dividing by zero is undefined, the slope of

the line is undefined.

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Example 6
Undefined Slope

Check
Which of the following represents the slope of the line that
passes through L(−2, 3), M(−2, 8)?
A. 0
B. 5
$
C.− "
D. The slope is undefined.

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