What is slope?
Notes

Learning Target:
SOL A.6a
The student will graph linear
equations in two variables and
determine the slope of a line when given the graph of
the line or two points on the line.
The slope of a non-vertical line is the ratio of the ______________ change to the
______________ change. We refer to this as the rate of change and use m to
represent slope.
Finding the slope of A Line Given a Graph:
m=
Read a graph like you read a book, from left to right.

If the line is going __________, the slope should be _________________.

If the line is going __________, the slope should be _________________.
Find the slope of each line graphed.
1.
2.
3.
4.
1
Finding slope of horizontal and vertical lines:
HOY
VUX
H:
V:
O:
U:
Y:
X:
5.
6.
Finding the slope Given Two Points:
m=
Find the slope of each line passing through the given points.
5. (4, 3) and (-2, -3)
6. (-3, 5) and (8, 2)
7. (8, 0) and (8, 4)
8. (6, -2) and (5, -2)
2
Try it!
Find the slope of each line.
1.
2.
3. What type of line has a slope of zero?
Find the slope of the line passing through the given points.
4. (-1, 2) and (3, -4)
6. (8, 5) and (2, -7)
5. (0, 5) and (-3, 5)
7. (-1, 3) and (-1, 9)
8. The graph below shows the elevation of a hiker walking on a mountain trail.
a. What does the slope represent?
b. Describe the hike in terms of slope.
Time (min)
3