The correct reason for the sign of the slope relates to the direction of the line as you move from left to right on the graph. Here’s the clarification for each option mentioned:
-
Negative slope: The slope is negative because the line decreases as you move from left to right on the graph. This means that as the x-values increase, the y-values decrease, indicating an inverse relationship.
-
Positive slope: The slope is positive because the line increases as you move from left to right on the graph. This suggests that as the x-values increase, the y-values also increase, indicating a direct relationship.
So, the two correct statements are:
- The slope is negative because the line decreases as you move from left to right on the graph.
- The slope is positive because the line increases as you move from left to right on the graph.
The other two statements provided are incorrect in their conclusions about the slope.