Question

Describe, step-by-step how to find the slope of a line through two points

Answer 1

Step One: Identify two points on the line.

Step Two: Select one to be (x1, y1) and the other to be (x2, y2).

Step Three: Use the slope equation to calculate slope.

The equation used to calculate the slope from two points is: m= y2 - y1 / x2 - x1

Example

Let's say that points (15, 8) and (10, 7) are on a straight line. What is the slope of this line?

Step One: Identify two points on the line.

In this example we are given two points, (15, 8) and (10, 7), on a straight line.

Step Two: Select one to be (x1, y1) and the other to be (x2, y2).

It doesn't matter which we choose, so let's take (15, 8) to be (x2, y2). Let's take the point (10, 7) to be the point (x1, y1).

Step Three: Use the equation to calculate slope.

Once we've completed step 2, we are ready to calculate the slope using the equation for a slope: