What is Slope of an equation?

Answer 1

When an equation is in slope-intercept form (y = mx + b), the slope is the variable m, where y is the the y-coordinate, x is the x-coordinate, and b is the y-intercept (where the line crosses the vertical axis). Slope is calculated as rise over run, or delta y over delta x. For example, you have a line on a graph and you need to know the slope. Find two points from that line and write down its coordinates--say, (2,6) and (4,8). The change in y (delta y, rise) is 2, because 8 - 6=2. The change in x (delta x, run) is 2, because 4 - 2=2. Note: make sure that when subtracting the x and y coordinates, that you do them in order. For example, don't go 8-6 and then 2-4. Since slope is delta y over delta x, the slope of the line is 2/2, or 1.