The formula to calculate the slope of a line is given by:
slope (m) = (y2 – y1) / (x2 – x1)
In this formula, (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) are two distinct points on the line. The slope, denoted as m, measures the steepness of the line, effectively indicating how much y changes for a unit change in x.
For example, if you have two points, (2, 3) and (5, 11), you can substitute these values into the formula:
m = (11 - 3) / (5 - 2) = 8 / 3This result shows that for every 3 units you move along the x-axis, the y-value increases by 8 units, demonstrating a positive slope. A positive slope indicates the line rises as it moves from left to right, while a negative slope indicates it falls.