College Algebra Tutorial 25

College Algebra
Answer/Discussion to Practice Problems
Tutorial 25: Slope of a Line

WTAMU > Virtual Math Lab > College Algebra > Tutorial 25: Slope of a Line

Answer/Discussion to 1a

(2, -5) and (-1, -1)

*Plug in x and y values into slope formula

*Simplify

Make sure that you are careful when one of your values is negative and you have to subtract it as we did in line 2. -5 - (-1) is not the same as -5 - 1 and 2 - (-1) is not the same as 2 - 1.

The slope of the line is -4/3.

Since the slope is negative, the line would fall (left to right).

(return to problem 1a)

Answer/Discussion to 1b

(7, 1) and (7, 2)

*Plug in x and y values into slope formula

*Simplify

The slope of the line is undefined.

Since the slope is undefined, the line is vertical.

(return to problem 1b)

Answer/Discussion to 1c

(1, 7) and (-2, -2)

*Plug in x and y values into slope formula

*Simplify

Make sure that you are careful when one of your values is negative and you have to subtract it as we did in line 2. 7 - (-2) is not the same as 7 - 2 and 1 - (-2) is not the same as 1 - 2.

The slope of the line is 3.

Since the slope is positive, the line would rise (left to right).

(return to problem 1c)

Answer/Discussion to 1d

(-1, -5) and (-4, -5)

*Plug in x and y values into slope formula

*Simplify

Make sure that you are careful when one of your values is negative and you have to subtract it as we did in line 2. -5 - (-5) is not the same as -5 - 5 and -1 - (-4) is not the same as -1 - 4.

The slope of the line is 0.

Since the slope is zero, the line is horizontal.

(return to problem 1d)

WTAMU > Virtual Math Lab > College Algebra > Tutorial 25: Slope of a Line