Question

The slope of a line is given by the formula:

horizontal change
m
vertical change
True
False

Answer 1

False

Explanation:

The defining characteristic of a line is that is has a constant average rate of change.

• That is, for a given line, for whatever two points are selected, the average rate of change between then will be the same.

• This constant average rate of change is called the slope of the line.

`slope=(rise)/(run)=(verticalchange)/(horizontal change) =(y)/(x) =(y_(2) -y_(1) )/(x_(2) -x_(1) )`

• The first two versions are more geometric in nature (applied problems)
• The second two version are more algebraic (points on the x-y plane)

Slope is

• Positive when the line rises from left to right.
• Negative when the line falls from left to right
• Zero when the line is horizontal ( no change in y)
• Undefined when the line is vertical (no change in x)