Finding The Slope of a Line

Jennifer Prince 6/18/03

Slopes are commonly associated with mountains.

The slope we are studying is associated with the graph of a

line.

Definitions of Slope

• The tilt or inclination of a line

• The ratio of vertical change to horizontal change.

• The change in y over the change in x

Tilt or Inclination

Vertical ChangeHorizontal Change

This ratio is also known as

Rise

Run

How many points do you need to draw a line?

• One

• Two

• Three

Graph (3,2) and (-1,-1)

Draw a line through the points.

Now that we have our line lets find its slope.

Remember we are finding the following ratio:Vertical or Rise

Horizontal Run

Vertical Change

or the Rise

3

Horizontal Changeor the Run

4

3

Vertical Rise Horizontal Run

3

4

Find the slope of the following line.

The slope is…

1

2

Find the slope of the line.

The slope is….

-3

Find the slope of these lines.

The slope is…

• Black line 3

• Red Line 1

• Blue Line -1/2

Find the slope of these lines

The slope is…

• Orange line 0

• Green Line Undefined

Let’s draw a line using slope.

What else do you think you need besides the slope in order to draw a

line?

A point!

If you know the slope and one point on the line you can draw the line.

Example: slope is 1/3 and the point (-2,-1)

Now you draw a line.

• Given: slope is 2/3 and the point is (1,0)

• Given: slope is –3 and the point is (–2,4)

• Given: slope is 1 and the point is (2,3)

The graphs are…

Student Activity

You will now receive a worksheet. You are to find the slope of a line and

draw a line given the slope and a point. Turn the worksheet in when

completed.

Work Time

Change in y over the change in x

The formula for finding

the slope of a line.

Class Activity

Click on the following link for slope practice.

Closing Activity

You will receive a second worksheet. Given 2 points, find the slope using the slope formula. You will turn in

the worksheet.