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LECTURE - 5
SLOPE

When there is a linear relationship between x and y, then y – x graph is a straight line.

e.g. 3 x  4 y  7 is a linear equation in x and y and y – x graph plotted for this equation is a straight
line.

The tan ratio of angle made by straight line with positive direction of x axis is known as slope of line,
i.e.


x

Figure (1)

e.g. in figure shown, slope of line = tan .

As tan  is +ve when 0 <  < 90°

and tan  is –ve when 90° <  < 180°

 a straight line if makes acute angle with +ve x axis, its slope is +ve but if it makes obtuse angle
with +ve x axis, its slope is –ve. e.g. In figure (1), slope of line is +ve and in figure (2), slope of line is
–ve.
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
x

Figure (2)

If line is plotted parallel to x axis, slope is zero. If line is parallel to y axis, slope is infinite. e.g. slope
is zero for the line shown in figure (3) and slope is infinite for the line shown in figure (4).

y y

x x
Figure (3) Figure (4)
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How to find slope

y2

y2 – y1

y1 
x2 – x1


x
x1 x2

If any two points having coordinates (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) are taken on the line as shown, then

y 2  y1 y
tan   
x2  x1 x

 x  change in x

y  change in y

Slope explains the rate of change of y with respect to x.

+ve slope  If x is increased, y also increases and if x is decreased, y also decreases.

 If x is +ve, y is also +ve.

–ve slope  If x is increased, y decreases and if x is decreased, y increases.

 If x is +ve, y is –ve.

y = mx + c is the general equation of a straight line in which,

m  slope of line

c  Intercept of line on y-axis

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Slope for any curve: If y – x is not a linear function, then y – x graph will not be a straight line but will
be some curve as shown.

There can be various shapes of curve. The relation between y and x decide the shape of a curve. As
curve is not a straight line, so its angle with x axis cannot be defined, so slope for a curve is not defined,
although slope for a curve at some point on curve is defined.

Slope of curve at any point on it is defined as slope of tangent to the curve at that point, e.g.

y
This straight line is tangent
to curve at A. tan  is slope
of tangent. So tan  is slope
of curve at A.


x
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Curve shows increase of slope

with increase in x and slope is
+ve throughout

Curve shows decrease of slope

with increase in x and slope is
+ve throughout

x
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Curve shows increase of slope

with increase in x but slope
throughout is –ve

Curve shows decrease of slope

with increase in x but slope
throughout is –ve

x
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In the graph shown, slope of curve

is +ve and decreasing in the part
OA and slope of curve is –ve and
increasing in the part AB
A

x
O B

