Slope Practice Problems - Linear Functions y=mx Worksheets

Master slope calculations with step-by-step practice problems. Learn to find slope from two points, interpret positive and negative slopes, and graph linear functions.

πŸ“šWhat You'll Master in This Slope Practice Session
  • Calculate slope using the formula m = (y2-y1)/(x2-x1) with two given points
  • Identify positive, negative, and zero slopes and their graphical meanings
  • Determine which line is steeper by comparing slope values
  • Graph linear functions y=mx based on calculated slope values
  • Solve real-world problems involving rate of change and slope interpretation
  • Recognize the relationship between slope steepness and numerical values

Understanding Slope

Complete explanation with examples

The concept of slope in the function y=mx y=mx expresses the angle between the line and the positive direction of the X X axis.
M M represents the slope of the function – the rate of change of Y Y relative to the rate of change of X X .
When two points on a certain line are known, the slope of the line can be calculated from them.Β 

If M>0 M>0 is positive - the line rises
If M<0 M<0 is negative - the line falls
If M=0 M=0 the line is parallel to the X X axis. (In a graph like this, where b=0 b=0 the line coincides with the X X axis.)

This calculation is done using the following formula:Β 

Β m=(Y2βˆ’Y1)(X2βˆ’X1) Β m=\frac {(Y2-Y1)}{(X2-X1)}

where the two points (X1,Y1) \left(X1,Y1\right) and (X2,Y2) \left(X2,Y2\right) are on the mentioned line.Β 

It is important to emphasize that the slope is constant for any line.Β 

Note:

The greater the slope – the steeper the graph.
The smaller the slope – the more moderate – flatter the graph.
How will you remember this?
Remember that when the slope is equal to 0, the graph is parallel to the X-axis – it is very, very moderate – flat.
Therefore, as it increases, the graph will be steeper.

Detailed explanation

Practice Slope

Test your knowledge with 7 quizzes

Given the linear function:

\( y=14x+13 \)

What is the rate of change of the function?

Examples with solutions for Slope

Step-by-step solutions included
Exercise #1

For the function in front of you, the slope is?

XY

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve this problem, follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Observe the given graph and the plotted line.
  • Step 2: Determine the direction of the line as it moves from left to right across the graph.
  • Step 3: Understand that a line moving downwards from left to right represents a negative slope.

Now, let's work through these steps:

Step 1: The graph shows a straight line that starts higher on the left side and descends towards the right side.

Step 2: As the line moves from left to right, it descends. This is a key indicator of the slope type.

Step 3: A line that moves downward from the left side to the right side of the graph (decreasing in height as it proceeds to the right) is characteristic of a negative slope. Conversely, a positive slope would show a line ascending as it moves rightward.

Therefore, the solution to the problem is the line has a negative slope.

Answer:

Negative slope

Video Solution
Exercise #2

For the function in front of you, the slope is?

XY

Step-by-Step Solution

To determine the slope of the line shown on the graph, we perform a visual analysis:

  • We examine the orientation of the line from left to right.
  • The red line starts at a higher point on the left and descends to a lower point on the right.
  • This indicates a downward movement, which corresponds to a negative slope.

Therefore, by observing the direction of the line, we conclude that the slope of the function is negative. This positional evaluation confirms that the correct answer is negative slope.

Answer:

Negative slope

Video Solution
Exercise #3

For the function in front of you, the slope is?

XY

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve this problem, we need to determine the slope of the line depicted on the graph.

First, understand that the slope of a line on a coordinate plane indicates how steep the line is and the direction it is heading. Specifically:

  • A positive slope means the line rises as it goes from left to right.
  • A negative slope means the line falls as it goes from left to right.

Let's examine the graph given:

  • We see that the line starts at a higher point on the left and descends to a lower point on the right side.
  • As we move from the left side of the graph towards the right, the line goes downwards.

This downward trajectory clearly indicates a negative slope because the line is declining as we move horizontally left to right.

Therefore, the slope of this function is Negative.

The correct answer is, therefore, Negative slope.

Answer:

Negative slope

Video Solution
Exercise #4

Given the linear function:

y=10βˆ’2x y=10-2x

What is the rate of change of the function?

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve this problem, we'll follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Recognize the given function y=10βˆ’2x y = 10 - 2x and compare it to the standard linear form y=mx+b y = mx + b .
  • Step 2: Identify the coefficient of x x which is βˆ’2 -2 .
  • Step 3: Understand that this coefficient βˆ’2 -2 is the slope or rate of change of the function.

Now, let's work through each step:
Step 1: The linear function provided is y=10βˆ’2x y = 10 - 2x .
Step 2: Comparing this with the standard linear form y=mx+b y = mx + b , we see that the coefficient of x x is βˆ’2 -2 .
Step 3: Therefore, the rate of change (or the slope) of the function is m=βˆ’2 m = -2 .

Thus, the rate of change of the linear function is m=βˆ’2 m = -2 .

Answer:

m=βˆ’2 m=-2

Video Solution
Exercise #5

Given the linear function:

y=βˆ’6x y=-6x

What is the rate of change of the function?

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve this problem, let's follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Identify the form of the given function
  • Step 2: Compare the equation with the standard slope-intercept form
  • Step 3: Extract the value of the slope from the equation

Now, let's work through each step:

Step 1: The given linear function is y=βˆ’6x y = -6x . This is presented in the form y=mx+b y = mx + b , where m m is the slope and b b is the y-intercept.

Step 2: Comparing y=βˆ’6x y = -6x with y=mx+b y = mx + b , we see that the equation lacks a constant term, indicating b=0 b = 0 . The slope m m is the coefficient of x x .

Step 3: The coefficient of x x is βˆ’6-6, so the slope m m is βˆ’6-6. Thus, the rate of change of the function is βˆ’6-6.

Therefore, the solution to the problem is m=βˆ’6 m = -6 .

Answer:

m=βˆ’6 m=-6

Video Solution

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you find the slope of a line with two points?

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Use the slope formula: m = (y2-y1)/(x2-x1). Subtract the first y-coordinate from the second y-coordinate, then divide by the difference of the x-coordinates. For example, with points (1,5) and (2,8): m = (8-5)/(2-1) = 3/1 = 3.

What does a positive vs negative slope mean?

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A positive slope (m > 0) means the line rises from left to right - as x increases, y increases. A negative slope (m < 0) means the line falls from left to right - as x increases, y decreases. Zero slope (m = 0) creates a horizontal line parallel to the x-axis.

How do you know which line has a steeper slope?

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Compare the absolute values of the slopes. The line with the larger absolute value has the steeper slope. For example, a line with slope -3 is steeper than a line with slope 2, because |-3| = 3 > 2.

What are common mistakes when calculating slope?

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Common errors include: 1) Mixing up the order of coordinates in subtraction, 2) Forgetting that slope is rise over run (y over x), 3) Not being careful with negative signs, 4) Confusing which point is (x1,y1) vs (x2,y2).

Why is slope the same everywhere on a straight line?

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Slope represents the constant rate of change for linear functions. No matter which two points you choose on the same straight line, the ratio of vertical change to horizontal change remains identical. This consistency is what makes it a straight line rather than a curve.

How does slope relate to the steepness of a graph?

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The greater the absolute value of the slope, the steeper the line appears. A slope of 0 creates a flat horizontal line, while slopes like 5 or -5 create very steep lines. Remember: steeper lines have larger slope magnitudes.

What is the slope formula and when do you use it?

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The slope formula is m = (y2-y1)/(x2-x1). Use it whenever you have two points on a line and need to find the slope. This formula works for any two distinct points on the same straight line and will always give the same result.

Can you have a line with undefined slope?

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Yes, vertical lines have undefined slope because the denominator (x2-x1) equals zero when both points have the same x-coordinate. You cannot divide by zero, so the slope is undefined. These lines are written as x = constant.

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