INCLINATION AND

SLOPE OF A LINE
DEFINITION:

The inclination of a 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.
According to this definition, the inclination θ of a line is such that

0o ≤ x < 180o, or 0 ≤ x < π

y y

L L

x x
M M
DEFINITION:
The slope of a line is the tangent of the inclination.
y
P2 (x2, y2)
m = tanθ
where: m = slope
(y2 – y1) θ = angle of inclination

Δ𝑦 𝑃 𝑀
θ
𝑚= =¿ 2 =¿ 𝑦 2 − 𝑦 1
P1 (x1, y1) M (x2, y1)
Δ𝑥 𝑃1 𝑀 𝑥 2 − 𝑥1
(x2 – x1)
x
Parallel and Perpendicular Lines

If two lines are parallel their slope are equal.

If two lines are perpendicular the slope of one of
the line is the negative reciprocal of the slope of
the other line.
If m1 is the slope of L1 and m2 is the slope of
L2 then, m1 = - or m1m2 = -1.
y y

L1 L2 L2 L1

m1 m2
m1 m2

θ1 θ2 θ1 θ2
x x

L1 || L2 L1 ┴ L2
m1 = m2 m1 =
Signs 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.
Find the slope of the line passing through the two points. Find
also the inclination to the nearest degree.

1. (2, 3), (3, 7) 2. (-9, 0), (3, 81)

Find the slope of the line passing through the two points. Find
also the inclination to the nearest degree.
3. (-2, 8), (4, -3) 4. (3, 7), (4, 8)