Final answer:
To calculate the slope of the density of water, subtract the density values of two altitude points to find the rise and then subtract the altitude values to find the run. Divide the rise by the run to get the slope, which represents the rate of change in water density over that altitude range.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the slope of a line on a graph, which represents the “density of water” in this case, we use two points on the line. The general formula for slope is “(the difference in y-value) divided by (the difference in x-value)”, which is often presented as (y2 - y1) / (x2 - x1). Imagine you are given two points on a graph, where the first point is at an altitude of 4,000 meters and the second point is at an altitude of 6,000 meters. You would subtract the y-value (density) of the first point from the y-value of the second point to find the rise. Then subtract the x-value (altitude) of the first point from the x-value of the second point to determine the run. Finally, divide the rise by the run to find the slope. This calculation will give you a numerical value that represents the rate of change in water density with respect to altitude over that interval.