Question

WHICH of the following equations has the steepest slope?

A. y=5x-6
B. y=1/2x+3
C. y=2 x+12
D. y=4x+9

Answer 1

You have four linear functions:
1.
`y=5x-6` with slope
`m_1=5`;
2.
`y=(1)/(2)x+3` with slope
`m_2=(1)/(2)`;
3.
`y=2x+12` with slope
`m_3=2`;
4.
`y=4x+9` with slope
`m_4=4`.
The steepest slope is that of the line that is closest to being vertical. This could be a line that has positive slope OR negative slope...the steepest one should be determined by examining the ABSOLUTE VALUES of these four slopes.
Since
`m_2\ \textless \ m_3\ \textless \ m_4\ \textless \ m_1`
the steepest slope has first function.