INCLINATION AND SLOPE OF A

LINE

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INCLINATION AND SLOPE OF A LINE
 
The inclination of the line, L, (not
parallel to the x-axis) is defined as the
smallest positive angle measured from the
positive direction of the x-axis or the
counterclockwise direction to L.
The slope of the line is defined as the
tangent of the angle of inclination.

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 y y

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Sign Conventions:
Slope is positive (+), if the line is leaning to the
right.
Slope is negative (-), if the line is leaning to the
left.
Slope is zero (0), if the line is horizontal.

Slope is undefined ( ), if the line is vertical.

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Examples:

1. Find the slope, m, and the angle of inclination, , of

the lines through each of the following pair of points.
a.(-8, -4) and (5, 9)

b.(10, -3) and (14, -7)

c. (-9, 3) and (2, -4).

2. The line segment drawn from (x, 3) to (4, 1) is

perpendicular to the segment drawn from (-5, -6) to
(4, 1).7 Find the value of x.
4. Show that the triangle whose vertices are A(8, -4),
B(5, -1) and C(-2,-8) is a right triangle.
5. Show that the points A(-2, 6), B(5, 3), C(-1, -11) and
D(-8, -8) are the vertices of a parallelogram. Is the
parallelogram a rectangle?

6. Find y if the slope of the line segment joining (3, -2) to

(4, y) is -3.

7. Show that the points A(-1, -1), B(-1, -5) and C(12, 4) lie
on a straight line.

 
 
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