Rectangular Coordinate System Slope of a Line

Slope – the steepness of a line, measured the ratio of its

“rise” to its “run”.

– represented by “m ”.

( x1 , y1)

rise y
m= =
run x
y-axis - the vertical line
x-axis – the horizontal line
The x and y axes divide the
cartesian plane into four
( x2 , y2 )
quadrants.
Origin - the intersection of – given two points, the formula in finding the slope is:
the x and y axes y 2− y 1
m=
x 2−x 1
Linear Equations in Two Variables The Trends of the Graph
- An equation in the form of Ax+ By=C , where A, B,
and C are constants, and at least one of A and B are 1. m>0 or the slope is positive
not zero – the graph is increasing or rising to
the right.

Ax+ By=C - the standard form of linear equation 2. m<0 or the slope is negative
– the graph is decreasing or rising to
the left.
Example
3. m=0
Determine whether or not each equation is a linear equation in
– the graph is a horizontal line.
two variables.
4. m=undefined
1
a. 2 x – 7 y =1 b. y=5 x – 3 c. 4 x 2 – y=8 d. – the graph is a vertical line.
x
+𝑦 = 3 e. xy=6

Solution:
a. The equation is written in the form Ax+ By=C .
b. The equation is in slope-intercept form y=mx+b . Thus, m
= 4 and b = -9
c. The exponents of the variables must be 1. Since the
exponent of x is 2, this is not a linear equation.
d. This is not a linear equation because a variable appears in
the denominator of a fraction.
e. Not a linear equation because the two variables are part of
the same term.
 SLOPE – INTERCEPT FORM
Example ( 5 , 1 ) and (−2 ,−2 )

First: Plot the points ( 5 , 1 ) and (−2 ,−2 ).

( 5 , 1)

(−2 ,−2 ) Example 1 What is the equation of a line with slope, 3

and a point passing through ( 0 , 1 )?

Given: m=3 andb=1

Second: Count therise and therun . To write the slope – intercept form:
Substitution y=m x+ b

y=3 x +1

7 y=3 x +1 slope – intercept form

( 5 , 1)
3 Example 2 Write the standard form of a line whose slope
(−2 ,−2 ) is −4 and y-intercept of −8 .

Given: m=−4 andb=−8

FIRST, write the slope – intercept form:

Substitution y=m x+ b
Third: Solve for the slope: rise overrun.
y=−4 x + (−8 )
rise 3 3
m= = =
run 7 7 y=−4 x−8 slope – intercept form

Using the FORMULA: ( 2 , 3 ) and ( 4 ,−5 ) SECOND, write the standard form ( Ax+ By=C ):
( x1 , y1 ) ( x2 , y2)
Substitution: Use the slope-intercept form:
y −y y=−4 x−8 Additive inverse of −4 x
m= 2 1
x 2−x 1
4 x+ y=−8 Ax + By = C Form

−5−3
m= Example 3 In the linear function−x + y=5 , find the
4−2 slope, y-intercept, and the trend of graph
−8 Given: −4 x+ y=7
¿
2
To write the slope – intercept form:
m=−4
−x + y=5 Additive inverse of −x
The slope is negative, so it is decreasing or rising
to the left. y=x +5 slope – intercept form

m=1 andb=5
The slope is positive, so the graph is
increasing or rising to the right.