im trying to find the slope of a line using rise over run but there are no numbers on my paper to go off of

Question

math is very hard for me and i have a short term paying attention span

Answer 1

Also:

y = mx+b

where m is the slope, and b is where y and x intersect.

Let's say you want to find the equation for a line where the slope is m=6 that passes through the points y=-3 and x=9.

What you need to do first is solve for b.

so, plug what you're given into y = mx+b...

(-3)=(6)(9)+b

Now you need to isolate b (the intersection point) by itself on one side of the equation in order to solve for it...this is most easily done AFTER simplifying the longer side of the equation:

(-3)=(54)+b:
-3+54=b:
b=51

the slope of the line can be found by using the tan-1 key on a scientific calculator (51(tan-1) =88.9 degrees)

 

 

Answer 2

It is hard to help if you don't post the actual problem, but I will try.

 

When learning about slope we often hear "rise" over "run" but it isn't always clear what those mean.

 

I like to think of the slope as a way of measuring how "steep" a hill is if I were climbing it.  In those terms, a positive slope means I am climbing up the hill and a negative slope would mean I am actually going down the hill.

 

Regardless, the point is that the "rise" is the vertical change and the "run" is the horizontal change., sort of like a staircase. When you walk up the staircase, the rise is how high you have to lift your leg each step, and the run is how far forward the step goes.

 

You can calculate all of this without lines, but you need some information.

 

 

rise = change in y direction = (y₁ - y₀)

run = change in x direction = (x₁ - x₀)

 

so if you have two points on the line, which is (x,y) and which is (x₀,y₀)?

 

In general we go from left to right, so think of the point that is to the left (smaller X value) as (x₀,y₀)

then the other point is (x,y)

 

does that help?

 

If not, please post the actual problem you are trying to solve and i will try again.

 

Thanks