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CAHSEE Math 4.5 Algebra and Functions 239 Views


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Description:

Algebra and Functions: Drill Set 4, Problem 5. What is the slope of the line in the graph?

Language:
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Transcript

00:03

And here's your shmoopy question of the day.

00:06

What is the slope of the line shown in the graph below?

00:09

Here are the potential answers...

00:12

Hit pause, try it yourself.

00:17

Do we remember that whole y = mx plus b thing? That m is slope and slope is rise over run?

00:23

Well, let's hope so.

00:25

There's a pretty easy brute force way

00:26

to figure this one out -- a new process called counting.

00:30

Start here and count over as many squares until the line intersects cleanly a solid

00:35

line above it.

00:36

And we go 3 over to the right -- and then we can rise 1.

00:40

Note that the slope goes from left to right in an upward or positive direction --

00:45

so the slope is POSITIVE.

00:47

Note also that slopes can be zero -- if they flat. Rise to run then is just 0 over

00:53

... well anything, really. 0 over anything is 0.

00:55

What if the line is vertical?

00:57

Then you have rise of... whatever... over run of... 0.

01:01

Can we ever divide by 0?

01:03

Well, not if we don't want to get an eraser to the head from our math teacher. No, we can't.

01:07

Anyway, in this case the slope, or rise over run, is 1 over 3...

01:12

...and it's answer C. Done.

01:14

It's okay to be excited that we figured this thing out. Go ahead... give a little yodel.

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