Slope
In mathematics, the
slope or
gradient of a line is a number that describes both the
direction and the
steepness of the line. Slope is often denoted by the letter
m. ▪ The
direction of a line is either increasing, decreasing, horizontal or vertical. ▪ A line is
increasing if it goes
up from left to right. The slope is
positive, i.e.. ▪ A line is
decreasing if it goes
down from left to right. The slope is
negative, i.e.. ▪ If a line is horizontal the slope is
zero. This is a constant function. ▪ If a line is vertical the slope is
undefined. ▪ The
steepness, incline, or grade of a line is measured by the absolute value of the slope. A slope with a greater absolute value indicates a steeper line Slope is calculated by finding the ratio of the "vertical change" to the "horizontal change" between two distinct points on a line. Sometimes the ratio is expressed as a quotient, giving the same number for every two distinct points on the same line. A line that is decreasing has a negative "rise".