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# Slope formula

Learn how to write the slope formula from scratch and how to apply it to find the slope of a line from two points.
It's kind of annoying to have to draw a graph every time we want to find the slope of a line, isn't it?
We can avoid this by writing a general formula for slope. Before we start, let's remember how slope is defined:
start text, S, l, o, p, e, end text, equals, start fraction, start color #e07d10, start text, C, h, a, n, g, e, space, i, n, space, y, end text, end color #e07d10, divided by, start color #1fab54, start text, C, h, a, n, g, e, space, i, n, space, x, end text, end color #1fab54, end fraction
Let's draw a line through two general points left parenthesis, start color #1fab54, x, start subscript, 1, end subscript, end color #1fab54, comma, start color #e07d10, y, start subscript, 1, end subscript, end color #e07d10, right parenthesis and left parenthesis, start color #1fab54, x, start subscript, 2, end subscript, end color #1fab54, comma, start color #e07d10, y, start subscript, 2, end subscript, end color #e07d10, right parenthesis.
An expression for start color #1fab54, start text, c, h, a, n, g, e, space, i, n, space, x, end text, end color #1fab54 is start color #1fab54, x, start subscript, 2, end subscript, minus, x, start subscript, 1, end subscript, end color #1fab54:
Similarly, an expression for start color #e07d10, start text, c, h, a, n, g, e, space, i, n, space, y, end text, end color #e07d10 is start color #e07d10, y, start subscript, 2, end subscript, minus, y, start subscript, 1, end subscript, end color #e07d10:
Now we can write a general formula for slope:
start text, S, l, o, p, e, end text, equals, start fraction, start color #e07d10, start text, C, h, a, n, g, e, space, i, n, space, y, end text, end color #e07d10, divided by, start color #1fab54, start text, C, h, a, n, g, e, space, i, n, space, x, end text, end color #1fab54, end fraction, equals, start fraction, start color #e07d10, y, start subscript, 2, end subscript, minus, y, start subscript, 1, end subscript, end color #e07d10, divided by, start color #1fab54, x, start subscript, 2, end subscript, minus, x, start subscript, 1, end subscript, end color #1fab54, end fraction
That's it! We did it!

## Using the slope formula

Let's use the slope formula to find the slope of the line that goes through the points left parenthesis, 2, comma, 1, right parenthesis and left parenthesis, 4, comma, 7, right parenthesis.
Step 1: Identify the values of x, start subscript, 1, end subscript, x, start subscript, 2, end subscript, y, start subscript, 1, end subscript, and y, start subscript, 2, end subscript.
x, start subscript, 1, end subscript, equals, 2
y, start subscript, 1, end subscript, equals, 1
x, start subscript, 2, end subscript, equals, 4
y, start subscript, 2, end subscript, equals, 7, space, space, space, space, space, space, space, space
Step 2: Plug in these values to the slope formula to find the slope.
start text, S, l, o, p, e, end text, equals, start fraction, y, start subscript, 2, end subscript, minus, y, start subscript, 1, end subscript, divided by, x, start subscript, 2, end subscript, minus, x, start subscript, 1, end subscript, end fraction, equals, start fraction, 7, minus, 1, divided by, 4, minus, 2, end fraction, equals, start fraction, 6, divided by, 2, end fraction, equals, 3
Step 3: Gut check. Make sure this slope makes sense by thinking about the points on the coordinate plane.
Yup! This slope seems to make sense since the slope is positive, and the line is increasing.

## Using the slope formula walkthrough

Let's use the slope formula to find the slope of the line that goes through the points left parenthesis, 6, comma, minus, 3, right parenthesis and left parenthesis, 1, comma, 7, right parenthesis.
Step 1: Identify the values of x, start subscript, 1, end subscript, x, start subscript, 2, end subscript, y, start subscript, 1, end subscript, and y, start subscript, 2, end subscript.
x, start subscript, 1, end subscript, equals
y, start subscript, 1, end subscript, equals
x, start subscript, 2, end subscript, equals
y, start subscript, 2, end subscript, equals

Step 2: Plug in these values to the slope formula to find the slope.
start text, S, l, o, p, e, end text, equals, start fraction, y, start subscript, 2, end subscript, minus, y, start subscript, 1, end subscript, divided by, x, start subscript, 2, end subscript, minus, x, start subscript, 1, end subscript, end fraction, equals

Step 3: Gut check. Make sure this slope makes sense by thinking about the points on the coordinate plane.
Does this slope make sense?

## Let's practice!

1) Use the slope formula to find the slope of the line that goes through the points left parenthesis, 2, comma, 5, right parenthesis and left parenthesis, 6, comma, 8, right parenthesis.

2) Use the slope formula to find the slope of the line that goes through the points left parenthesis, 2, comma, minus, 3, right parenthesis and left parenthesis, minus, 4, comma, 3, right parenthesis.

3) Use the slope formula to find the slope of the line that goes through the points left parenthesis, minus, 5, comma, minus, 7, right parenthesis and left parenthesis, minus, 2, comma, minus, 1, right parenthesis.

What happens in the slope formula when x, start subscript, 2, end subscript, equals, x, start subscript, 1, end subscript?
As a reminder, here is the slope formula:
start text, S, l, o, p, e, end text, equals, start fraction, y, start subscript, 2, end subscript, minus, y, start subscript, 1, end subscript, divided by, x, start subscript, 2, end subscript, minus, x, start subscript, 1, end subscript, end fraction
Feel free to discuss in the comments below!

## Want to join the conversation?

• Why is the slope formula y/x? Why not y-x or y+x?

Jack.
• Slope is something that is also referred to as the rate of change. For example, if you had a savings account that you deposited no money into initially but you deposit 20\$ weekly, your rate of change, or slope for this problem would be 20. This is because your x-value in this situation would be the number of weeks passed since you have created your bank account, and the y-value is how much money you have deposited into your account, fully. Since you are looking at the rate of change between the weeks, you divide the change in y per week, 20, by 1 for the number of weeks. I hope this somewhat answers your question.
I think that when x_2 = x_1 then the slope will become undefined because x_2 - x_1 equals zero. Therefore when you divide y_2 - y_1 it won't be possible.

Example

(5,10) (5,15)

x_1 = 5
x_2 = 5
y_1 =10
y_2 =15

5 - 5= 0

15-10=5

5/0= Undefined
• Yes, you are correct. The slope of any line through two different points with the same x-coordinate (that is, a vertical line) is always undefined, for the reason you stated.
• I think that when X2 = X1, the slope is undefined
• Yes! That is correct.
• If I Get The Right Answer Then Why Do I Have To Simplify?
• Simplifying just makes it easier to read/understand. It makes it more "simple." Although both are equal, it is just easier to work with if it's simplified afterwards.
• For the last one, if x_1 equals x_2 it is undefined, this is because, from the other videos, it was said that if the two points have the same x when drawing the line, it will be straight up and down, with no slope, but those are called undefined as there really is an undefined slope to it
• Yes you are correct that the slope is undefined if x_1 = x_2. Good job!
When x1 = x2, it means that x1-x2=0. So therefore the formula will simplify to y/0. And as x/0 is undefined, the slope should also be undefined.
• Using the slope​ formula, find the slope of the line through the points (0,0) and(3,6) . Use pencil and paper. Explain how you can use mental math to find the slope of the line. The slope of the line is enter your response here. ​(Type an integer or a simplified​ fraction.)
• 0s make it easy because you end up with a proportional relationship where y/x = 6/3 or when you reduce and multiply by x, you get y=2x. Using the slope formula, m= (6-0)/(3-0) which is just m=6/3=2.
• Why do we always take change in y over change in x Why not vice versa ?
• slope is rise over run, and rise is y, while x is run.
(1 vote)
• bro im honestly so gone
• Slope is basically the change in the y direction divided by the change in the x direction. If you don't know graphs, you might want to learn that first.
(1 vote)
• In the very last part, why is the formula for slope delta y/delta x instead of delta x/ delta y?
(1 vote)
• This is because the equation that describes a line is y=mx+c.
If we have the y and x values (as in the coordinates), and c is constant for both points (which if it is two point on one line, we know it is) than we can solve for m with algebra.
If we have two coordinates on a line (x1,y1 =1,2) and (x2, y2 =3,6) we can solve for m as follows.
(x2,y2) 6=m3+c
-
(x1,y1) 2=m1+c

1st step: c-c =0
we are left with
6=m3
-
2=m1
The first equation minus the second =
4=2m
But we want the slope (m) on one side so we can solve for M.
4/2=m