# Slope05:00 minutes

Video Transcript

## TranscriptSlope

On the slopes of the Himalayans, Leonetti the Yeti and his wife Betty are sledding. While Leonetti pushes his wife up the mountain, she nags at him to go faster. It’s hard work, and Leonetti is huffing and puffing with the exertion!

### What is Slope?

Why is it such hard work? There’s a mathematical explanation! Slope!

Slope is a number that expresses the steepness of a line. Imagine you draw a line along the incline of the mountainside. Slope is the change in height compared to the change in width.

### Formula for Slope

Let’s take a look at the formula for slope. M stands for slope, and the triangle symbol is the Greek letter delta, meaning change or difference.

To determine the slope of a line, select two points on a line then calculate delta y, the change of the y-values, to determine the change of height; divided by delta x, the change of the x-values, to determine the change of width.

When you determine the differences of the x- and y-values, make sure you maintain the order of the coordinates. Alternatively, you can think of this as rise divided by run or simply rise over run.

### Slope Calculation Example 1 (Positive Slope)

Let’s figure out the slope of the route where Leonetti is having such a tough time pushing his bride up the mountainside.

Draw a line along the side of the mountain's incline and select any two points on the line. Then determine the ordered pairs for both points, and plug the numbers into the slope formula.

6 − 3 = 3 and 15 − 6 = 9. You can simplify this fraction. So the slope is one over three, or one-third.

### Slope Calculation Example 2 (Positive Slope)

What happens if the angle of the incline is different? Imagine Leonetti and Betty take a different route, this time less steep. It’s not such a workout for Leonetti to push Betty up the mountain. How does the slope differ?

Just like before, use the slope formula to divide the change in height by the change in width. One divided by five is equal to one-fifth. FYI, on the same line, regardless of where you select the two points, the slope will always be the same.

On the steeper route, the slope is 1/3 and on the less steep route, the slope is 1/5. So can we conclude, the larger the slope, the steeper the line? That is true for this situation, but the rule is: the larger the absolute value of the slope, the steeper the line.

### Calculation example 3 (Negative Slope)

Both times Leonetti has pushed his wife up the mountain. Are you wondering what happens to the slope of the line when the Yetis sled down the mountain? Great question!

To model sledding down the mountain, let's put some new numbers into the slope formula. 2 − 6 = −4, and 15 − 3 = 12. Divide the numbers, and you get a slope equal to negative one third.

So, does that mean we can conclude that a negative slope means a line slanted down? You betcha! And, the greater the absolute value of the negative slope the steeper the line? Right again!

### Calculation example 4 (No Slope)

Leonetti and his wife Betty are now on level ground. This time he pulls his wife across the snow. Again, she nags at him to go faster. What happens to the slope when there is no incline or decline?

Since there is no change in height, Y2 − Y1 = 0. X2 − X1 = 13. The slope is zero over 13 which is equal to zero. FYI again, if you draw another line parallel to this line… Guess what? The slopes will be the same!

### Slope Tree

I have a fantastic graphic to help you remember all of this. No, it’s not a Christmas tree, it’s a slope tree!

• If the line slants up, the slope is positive.
• If the line slants down, the slope is negative.
• And, if the line is parallel to the x-axis, the slope is zero.

What about the tree trunk? What if the line is parallel to the y-axis? In that case, you would have a zero in the denominator, and we all know you can’t divide a number by zero – it’s not defined, so the slope is not defined as well.

What does all this mean for Leonetti and his nagging wife Betty?

1. Thank you for your kind comments! We're working hard to continue to bring you videos with easy-to-understand explanations...and fun stories!

Posted by Eugene L., almost 4 years ago
2. I know, it's really good :)

Posted by Plano Kellmeyer, over 4 years ago
3. really cool

Posted by Student033 6, over 4 years ago

## Videos in this Topic

Linear Equations and Inequalities (9 Videos)

## Slope Exercise

### Would you like to practice what you’ve just learned? Practice problems for this video Slope help you practice and recap your knowledge.

• #### Label the picture using the correct terms.

##### Hints

For the line shown on the graph, the change in height and the change in width can be expressed in $3$ different ways.

If $\Delta y$ increases and $\Delta x$ stays the same, $m$ also increases.

Remember, slope is rise over run.

##### Solution

We use the following formula to calculate the slope of a line:

$\text{slope}=\frac{\text{change in height}}{\text{change in width}}$.

Mathematically, we write this formula in the following manner:

$m=\frac{\Delta y}{\Delta x}$.

• $m$ stands for the slope
• $\Delta$ is the Greek capital letter delta, meaning 'change'
• $\Delta y$ or $\Delta x$ is the change in $y$ or $x$, respectively
• We can also expand $\Delta y$ to $y_2-y_1$, which is the difference between two y-coordinates. Similarly, $\Delta x$ can also be expanded to $x_2-x_1$, which is the difference between two x-coordinates
• Another way to think about $\Delta y$ is rise and another way to think about $\Delta x$ is run
• The pair of points, (x_1, y_1) and (x_2, y_2) is your choice. It also doesn't matter which is your "first" point and which is your "second" point; you just have to be consistent.
For example: Point 1: ($x_1$, $y_1$) = (2, 20) Point 2: ($x_2$, $y_2$) = (10, 25)

Point 1 "FIRST"

$\large m = \frac{20-25}{2-10} = \frac{-5}{-8} = \frac{5}{8}$

Point 2 "FIRST"

$\large m = \frac{25-20}{10-2} = \frac{5}{8}$

• #### Determine the slope of the mountainside.

##### Hints

Pay attention to the order of subtraction:

It doesn't matter which point you choose as point $1$ or point $2$, but when finding the slope of a line, the order in which you subtract the numbers must be consistent.

The first coordinate of a point is the x-coordinate, and the second is the y-coordinate.

Remember, another way to remember slope is rise over run.

Reducing a fraction to its lowest terms means dividing the numerator and the denominator by the GCF.

##### Solution

We use the formula $m=\frac{\Delta y}{\Delta x}$ to evaluate the slope, $m$.

• $\Delta y$ means change in height (or rise)
• $\Delta x$ means change in width (or run)
Let's find the slope using two points on the line: $(6,3)$ and $(15,6)$:

$m=\frac{6-3}{15-6}=\frac39=\frac13$

It's very important to pay attention to the order of subtraction. It doesn't matter which point you choose as point $1$ or point $2$, but when finding the slope of a line, the order in which you subtract the numbers has to be consistent.

• #### Examine the slopes of the lines using the formula $m = \frac{\Delta y }{\Delta x}$.

##### Hints

You need to know two points on a line to calculate the slope.

For example $(0.5,2.5)$ and $(2.5,3)$ are two points on the violet line.

Lines that are parallel to the x-axis have a slope of zero because the y-coordinates of the two points are the same.

A rising line has a positive slope.

##### Solution

To use the slope formula, we need two points from each line.

First, let's take a look at the blue line:

• The points are $(1,4.5)$ and $(3,0.5)$
• $m=\frac{0.5-4.5}{3-1}=-\frac42=-2$
Next, we examine the green line:
• The points are $(0,3.5)$ and $(3,3.5)$
• we should have a zero slope since the y-coordinates of both points are the same
• $m=\frac{3.5-3.5}{3-0}=\frac03=0$
Moving on to the red line:
• The points are $(1,2)$ and $(4,5)$
• $m=\frac{5-2}{4-1}=\frac33=1$
Finally, we look at the violet line:
• The points are $(0.5,2.5)$ and $(2.5,3)$
• $m=\frac{3-2.5}{2.5-0.5}=\frac{0.5}2=\frac14=0.25$

• #### Determine the slopes of the different routes.

##### Hints

The larger the slope, the steeper the line.

$\large{m=\frac{\Delta y}{\Delta x}}$

We only have positive slopes. Poor yetis!

Pay attention to the order of subtraction.

For example, for the following points:

$\large{(x_1,y_1)}$ and $\large{(x_2,y_2)}$

Though it doesn't matter which point is point 1 and which is point 2, you do have to be consistent.

$\large{m=\frac{y_2-y_1}{x_2-x_1}}$

##### Solution

For each route, we use the formula:

$\large{m=\frac{\Delta y}{\Delta x}}$

Let's take a look at the slopes for the different routes.

Yellow Route:

• $m=\frac{4-2}{5-1}=\frac24=\frac12$
Red Route:

• $m=\frac{5-3}{4-2}=\frac22=1$
Blue Route:

• $m=\frac{7-1}{4-1}=\frac63=2$
Green Route:

• $m=\frac{10-4}{3.5-2}=\frac6{1.5}=4$
• #### Describe how the slope influences the look of a line in the coordinate plane.

##### Hints

Have a look at two points lying on a line parallel to the x-axis, such as $(3,3)$ and $(5,3)$.

Use the equation $\large{m=\frac{\Delta y}{\Delta x}}$ to determine the slope of a line that passes through these points.

What's going on if you have a line parallel to the y-axis that passes through the points $(3,3)$ and $(3,5)$?

Use the equation $\large{m=\frac{\Delta y}{\Delta x}}$ to determine the slope.

Remember! Since you're not allowed to divide by zero, any slope that has zero in the denominator is undefined!

##### Solution

Take a look at the whole slope tree:

• on the left the line rises, so the slope is positive
• on the right the line falls, so the slope is negative
Parallel to the ground, our x-axis, we have a line with slope of zero. All lines parallel to this line have the same slope.

But what's going on with the tree trunk? A line parallel to the y-axis always indicates an undefined slope.

Hint: You can always tell a line will have an undefined slope if the $x$ coordinates of the two points are the same.

• #### Calculate the height of the mountain.

##### Hints

The x-coordinate of the mountain peak is $15+20=35$.

The corresponding y-coordinate is the unknown height.

Use the formula $\large{m=\frac{\Delta y}{\Delta x}=\frac{y_2-y_1}{x_2-x_1}}$ and plug in all the known values.

In this case, $(x_2,y_2)$ are the coordinates of the mountain peak. The unknown value is $y_2$.

Isolate the unknown value by using opposite operations.

##### Solution

The given information for this problem is:

• the slope ($m=2$)
• point on the mountain side ($15, 7$)
• x-coordinate of the mountain peak ($15 + 20, y_2$)
What we are looking for is the y-coordinate of the mountain peak, or the height.

We need to use the formula $m=\frac{\Delta y}{\Delta x}=\frac{y_2-y_1}{x_2-x_1}$ and plug in the known values:

$2=\frac{y_2-7}{35-15}=\frac{y_2-7}{20}$

Multiplying by $20$ we get the following equation:

$40=y_2-7$

Performing opposite operations, we add $7$ to both sides of the equation, giving us the solution:

$y_2=47$

The height of the mountain peak is 47 units tall.