To find the slope from data in a table, you would follow these steps:
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Identify Data Points: Look at the table and identify the pairs of values. Each row typically represents a point, with one value for the x-coordinate and one for the y-coordinate.
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Select Two Points: Choose two specific data points from the table. Let's call them (x1, y1) and (x2, y2).
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Use the Slope Formula: Apply the slope formula, which is: \[ \text{slope} (m) = \frac{(y2 - y1)}{(x2 - x1)} \] This formula calculates the change in the y-values (rise) over the change in the x-values (run).
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Calculate Changes:
- Find the difference between the y-values: \( y2 - y1 \)
- Find the difference between the x-values: \( x2 - x1 \)
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Compute the Slope: Insert the differences you calculated into the slope formula to get the value of the slope.
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Interpret the Slope: Finally, consider what the slope represents in the context of the data. A positive slope indicates an upward trend, while a negative slope indicates a downward trend.
By carefully following these steps, you can find the slope based on the data provided in the table.