Cartesian graph

Question

imagine that a line on a Cartesian graph is approximately the distance y in feet a person walks in x hours. What does the slope of this line represent? How is this graph useful? Provide another example for your colleagues to explain.

 

I need to understand what a cartesian graph is and how we use it in today's world.

Answer 1

The slope of line on a Cartesian graph is equal to change in y/change in x  If y is distance in feet & x is hours taken to walk that distance, then the slope of the line is average speed in units of feet/hour, or feet per hour.  The graph is useful in that for any period of time (x) one can visually determine the distance (y) walked.  Suppose I traveled 3,000 miles (y) in 50 hrs (x).  My average speed would be 60 mph & 60 would be the slope of the line representing the relationship between my miles covered in the time I took to cover them.