Asked by katie
how do you find the slope when given an equation
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Answers
Answered by
Damon
If it is the equation of a straight line, put it in the form
y = m x + b
(slope intercept form)
m is the slope. The line goes up m units when you move right one unit. (if m is negative of course the line goes down one unit when you go right one unit)
If it is not a straight line, the slope of the tangent to a curve at a point is found by differentiating the function. That is calculus.
y = m x + b
(slope intercept form)
m is the slope. The line goes up m units when you move right one unit. (if m is negative of course the line goes down one unit when you go right one unit)
If it is not a straight line, the slope of the tangent to a curve at a point is found by differentiating the function. That is calculus.
Answered by
jasmine
then how do you find the slope when only given (x,y) (x,y)
Answered by
Damon
that is not an equation but two points.
I will call them (X1, Y1) and (X2,Y2)
then the slope is
(Y2-Y1) / (X2-X1)
that is how far you went up over how far you went right
I will call them (X1, Y1) and (X2,Y2)
then the slope is
(Y2-Y1) / (X2-X1)
that is how far you went up over how far you went right
Answered by
katie
i guess
Answered by
Damon
By the way, you can find the equation for the line directly from that.
(Y2-Y1) / (X2-X1) = (y - Y1)/(x-X1)
because the slope to any point (x,y) on the line will be the same as that original slope from the two known points.
(Y2-Y1) / (X2-X1) = (y - Y1)/(x-X1)
because the slope to any point (x,y) on the line will be the same as that original slope from the two known points.