Calculate the slope of any line. Enter the x and y coordinates of any two points along a line to calculate the slope of the line and the distance between points.
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Slope Formula
The slope of a line can be calculated through the following formula:
slope = (y₂ - y₁) / (x₂ - x₁)
- y₂ = y coordinate of point 2
- y₁ = y coordinate of point 1
- x₂ = x coordinate of point 2
- x₁ = x coordinate of point 1
Slope Definition
Another word for slope is gradient. The gradient of a line is the rate of change in the coordinates with respect to Y/X. The slope is also often called rise over run. This corresponds to the common terminology that says that the Y-axis is vertical “rise” and the X-axis is horizontal “run”. The steeper the slope the greater the ratio of the Y position to X position. The shallower the slope the greater the ratio of the X position to the Y position.
How to Calculate Slope
Below is an example of how you might calculate the slope of a line with limited information. Let’s assume you are given the coordinates (2,3) and (4,5).
- First, you need to subtract y2-y1. Through this, you get 2.
- Next, you need to subtract X2-X1. Through this, you get 2.
- Now divide y by x. 2/2=1. Your slope is equal to 1.
- The last step is to analyze your results.
FAQ
A slope is considered the change in vertical distance divided by the change in horizontal distance.