Slope Formula

The symbol for slope is m. Slope is the rate of change of the

dependent variable y with respect to the independent variable
x. To find the slope of a line pick two points from the line:

point 1 (x1,y1) and point 2 (x2,y2).

Put these points into the formula for slope. It does not matter
which points you pick for point 1 and point 2 nor does it matter
which formula you use. What does matter is that you subtract
the point 1 values from the point 2 values or that you subtract
the point 2 values from the point 1 values as shown below in
the formula.
change in y rise y2 - y1 y1 - y2
m= = = =
change in x run x2 - x1 x1 - x2
Example, find the slope of the line with points (2,3) and (-7,8). Use
both formulas to verify you get the same slope.

y2 - y1 8-3 5 5
m= = = = -
x2 - x1 -7 - 2 -9 9

y1 - y2 3-8 -5 5
m= = = = -
x1 - x2 2 - -7 9 9
Slope-Intercept Form of an Equation
y = mx + b
Y-intercept, the point where the line crosses,
intersects, intercepts, comes in contact with,
meets, shares a common point, engages with the
y-axis. The number by itself including the sign in
front of it is b.

It is an actual point with an x-coordinate and a y-

coordinate. This formula only uses the value of
the y-coordinate which is what b stands for.

The y-intercept is the first point you plot

when you start the graph of the equation.

The slope is m. This is the number that x is

multiplied by. If it is not a fraction put a 1 under it
to make it a fraction. The slope tells you how to
get to the next point. The number on top tells
you how many spaces to move vertically and the
sign tells which direction, up if positive down if
negative. The bottom number tells you how many
spaces to move horizontally and the sign tells the
direction, left if negative right if positive.
 Graphing Equations
Put equations in slope-intercept form by solving
for y before graphing them. Make sure that y is
on the left side of the equation (for equations it is
not actually required to have y on the left side but
it is standard practice. When graphing
inequalities it is required). Once that is done the
equation tells you everything you need to make
the graph.

All the graphs start at the y- intercept b. The

slope tells you how to get to the next point.
The number on top tells you how many spaces to
move vertically and the sign tells which direction,
up if positive down if negative. The bottom
number tells you how many spaces to move
horizontally and the sign tells the direction, left if
negative right if positive.
 14 y 14 y
13 13
12 12
11 11
10 10
9 9
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
x x
-14 -13 -12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 -14 -13 -12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
-1 -1
-2 -2
-3 -3
-4

1 2
-4
-5 -5
-6 -6
-7 -7
-8 -8
-9 -9
-10 -10
-11 -11
-12 -12
-13 -13
-14 -14

m = -2 m=2
b=4 b = -4
Write the equation in slope-intercept form Write the equation in slope-intercept form
and graph it. and graph it.

14 y 14 y
13 13
12 12
11 11
10 10
9 9
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
x x
-14 -13 -12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 -14 -13 -12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
-1 -1
-2 -2
-3 -3

3 4
-4 -4
-5 -5
-6 -6
-7 -7
-8 -8
-9 -9
-10 -10
-11 -11
-12 -12
-13 -13
-14 -14

m = -2 m=2
b = -4 b=4
Write the equation in slope-intercept form Write the equation in slope-intercept form
and graph it.. and graph it.
Using the Slope-Intercept Form of an
Equation to Find the Slope and Y-Intercept

y = mx + b
Only when an equation is in slope-intercept form
will you be able to just look at it and know what
the slope m is and the y-intercept b is. The
slope m is the number x is multiplied by and the
y-intercept b is the number by itself (including the
sign in front of it).

For example in the equation y = 3x -9 the slope m

is 3 and the y-intercept b is -9.

When an equation is not solved for y it is not

in slope-intercept form so this does not work.
You need to put it in slope-intercept form by
solving for y first before you can apply this
trick.

For example y + 6x = 12 is not in slope-intercept

form. The slope is not 6. Solving for y you get
y = -6x +12. Now it is in slope-intercept form so
the slope m is -6 and the y-intercept b is 12.
 14 y 14 y
13 13
12 12
11 11
10 10
9 9
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
x x
-14 -13 -12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 -14 -13 -12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
-1 -1
-2 -2
-3 -3
-4

1 2
-4
-5 -5
-6 -6
-7 -7
-8 -8
-9 -9
-10 -10
-11 -11
-12 -12
-13 -13
-14 -14

Graph the equation: Graph the equation:

y = 2x + 1 y - 2x = 1

14 y 14 y
13 13
12 12
11 11
10 10
9 9
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
x x
-14 -13 -12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 -14 -13 -12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
-1 -1
-2 -2
-3 -3

3 4
-4 -4
-5 -5
-6 -6
-7 -7
-8 -8
-9 -9
-10 -10
-11 -11
-12 -12
-13 -13
-14 -14

Graph the equation: Graph the equation:

y - 2x -1 = 0 -4x -2 = -2y
 Graphing Inequalities
Put inequalities in slope-intercept form by solving
for y before graphing them. Make sure that y is
on the left side of the equation. Once that is done
the inequality tells you everything you need to
make the graph.

All the graphs start at the y- intercept b. The

slope m tells you how to get to the next point.
The inequality operator tells you if you need a
solid line or a dashed line, solid line if the
inequality operator has a solid line under it,
dashed line if no line under the inequality
operator. The inequality operator also tells you
which side to shade. Shade below if < or
,
shade above if > or .

y mx + b solid line, shade below

y mx + b solid line, shade above
y< mx + b dashed line, shade below
y> mx + b dashed line, shade above
 14 y 14 y
13 13
12 12
11 11
10 10
9 9
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
x x
-14 -13 -12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 -14 -13 -12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
-1 -1
-2 -2
-3 -3

1 2
-4 -4
-5 -5
-6 -6
-7 -7
-8 -8
-9 -9
-10 -10
-11 -11
-12 -12
-13 -13
-14 -14

m= m=
b= b=
Shade up or down? Shade up or down?
Solid or dashed line? Solid or dashed line?
Write the inequality in slope-intercept form. Write the inequality in slope-intercept form.

14 y 14 y
13 13
12 12
11 11
10 10
9 9
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
x x
-14 -13 -12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 -14 -13 -12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
-1 -1
-2 -2
-3 -3

3 4
-4 -4
-5 -5
-6 -6
-7 -7
-8 -8
-9 -9
-10 -10
-11 -11
-12 -12
-13 -13
-14 -14

m= m=
b= b=
Shade up or down? Shade up or down?
Solid or dashed line? Solid or dashed line?
Write the inequality in slope-intercept form. Write the inequality in slope-intercept form.
 14 y 14 y
13 13
12 12
11 11
10 10
9 9
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
x x
-14 -13 -12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 -14 -13 -12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
-1 -1
-2 -2
-3 -3
-4

1 2
-4
-5 -5
-6 -6
-7 -7
-8 -8
-9 -9
-10 -10
-11 -11
-12 -12
-13 -13
-14 -14

m = 2/3 m = 2/3
b=3 b=3
Shade up Shade up
Solid line Dashed line
Write the inequality in slope-intercept form and Write the inequality in slope-intercept form and
graph it. graph it.

14 y 14 y
13 13
12 12
11 11
10 10
9 9
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
x x
-14 -13 -12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 -14 -13 -12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
-1 -1
-2 -2
-3 -3

3 4
-4 -4
-5 -5
-6 -6
-7 -7
-8 -8
-9 -9
-10 -10
-11 -11
-12 -12
-13 -13
-14 -14

m = 2/3 m = 2/3
b=3 b=3
Shade down Shade down
Solid line Dashed line
Write the inequality in slope-intercept form and Write the inequality in slope-intercept form and
graph it. graph it.
 Point-Slope Form of an Equation
y - y1 = m(x - x1)
The point (x1, y1) is any point on the line. The value of m is
the slope of the line. y and x are the variables y and x.
The minus sign in front of y1 is not part of y1 and the minus
sign in front of x1 is not part of x1. The minus signs are part
of the formula and must be there for it to work correctly. For
example if you are given the equation y + 7 = 3(x + 9) you
need to replace the + with a - - so that the equation is in the
correct form. The correct form is y - -7 = 3(x - -9). Now
you can correctly pick out the value for y1 which is -7 and
x1 which is -9.

There are two situations when this form is useful:

You are given one point and the slope.
You are given two points.

If you know one point and the slope just put them in and you
have the equation. Since you know a point and the slope
you can graph the equation. Start at the point and use the
slope to get to the next point.

If you know two points you will have to calculate the slope
using the slope formula. Once you know the slope you can
plug it in along with either point and you have the equation.
Although the equations will look different for each point they
will look the same when you solve them for y. Graphing the
equation when you know two points is easiest of all. Just
plot both points and draw the line through them.
 14 y 14 y
13 13
12 12
11 11
10 10
9 9
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
x x
-14 -13 -12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 -14 -13 -12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
-1 -1
-2 -2
-3 -3
-4

1 2
-4
-5 -5
-6 -6
-7 -7
-8 -8
-9 -9
-10 -10
-11 -11
-12 -12
-13 -13
-14 -14

m = -2, the point is (3,4). m = 2, the point is (-3,-4).

Write the equation in point-slope form and Write the equation in point-slope form and
graph it. Now solve it for y so you can graph it. Now solve it for y so you can
figure out the y-intercept. figure out the y-intercept.

14 y 14 y
13 13
12 12
11 11
10 10
9 9
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
x x
-14 -13 -12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 -14 -13 -12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
-1 -1
-2 -2
-3 -3

3 4
-4 -4
-5 -5
-6 -6
-7 -7
-8 -8
-9 -9
-10 -10
-11 -11
-12 -12
-13 -13
-14 -14

The two points are (5,6) and (-1,-2) The two points are (2,3) and (4,7)
Write the equation in point-slope form and Write the equation in point-slope form and
graph it. Now solve it for y so you can graph it. Now solve it for y so you can
figure out the y-intercept. figure out the y-intercept.
 14 y 14 y
13 13
12 12
11 11
10 10
9 9
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
x x
-14 -13 -12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 -14 -13 -12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
-1 -1
-2 -2
-3 -3
-4

1 2
-4
-5 -5
-6 -6
-7 -7
-8 -8
-9 -9
-10 -10
-11 -11
-12 -12
-13 -13
-14 -14

Graph the equation: Graph the equation:

y - 5 = 3(x - 2) y + 5 = 3(x + 2)
Now solve it for y so you can figure out the Now solve it for y so you can figure out the
y-intercept. y-intercept.

14 y 14 y
13 13
12 12
11 11
10 10
9 9
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
x x
-14 -13 -12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 -14 -13 -12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
-1 -1
-2 -2
-3 -3

3 4
-4 -4
-5 -5
-6 -6
-7 -7
-8 -8
-9 -9
-10 -10
-11 -11
-12 -12
-13 -13
-14 -14

Graph the equation: Graph the equation:

y - 5 = 3(x + 2) y + 5 = 3(x - 2)
Now solve it for y so you can figure out the Now solve it for y so you can figure out the
y-intercept. y-intercept.
 Standard Form of an Equation
Ax + By = C
A, B and C are integers not decimals or fractions and A and
B can not be zero at the same time. This is best used to find
the x-intercept and the y-intercept of the equation.

Y-intercept, the point where the line crosses,

intersects, intercepts, comes in contact with,
meets, shares a common point, engages with the
y-axis. This is a point with an x-coordinate that is
always zero but a y-coordinate that is the value
on the y-axis where the line crosses the y-axis. If
you solved the equation for y the value of the y-
intercept would be b.

X-intercept, the point where the line crosses,

intersects, intercepts, comes in contact with,
meets, shares a common point, engages with the
x-axis. This is a point with a y-coordinate that is
always zero but an x-coordinate that is the value
on the x-axis where the line touches the x-axis.
Standard Form of an Equation,
Finding the x and the y-intercepts
Ax + By = C
Since the y-intercept is the point where the line
crosses the y-axis. The x-coordinate of that point is
always zero Put a zero in for x and you get a simpler
equation By = C. Just solve for y and you have the y-
intercept.

Find the y-intercept of:

5x + 10y = 20
5(0) + 10y = 20
10y = 20
y=2

Since the x-intercept is the point where the line

crosses the x-axis. The y-coordinate of that point is
always zero Put a zero in for y and you get a simpler
equation Ax = C. Just solve for x and you have the x-
intercept.

Find the x-intercept of:

5x + 10y = 20
5x + 10(0) = 20
5x = 20
x=4
Graphing Equations in Standard Form
Ax + By = C
To graph equations in standard form find the
x-intercpet and the y-intercept. Plot these two points
and draw the line through them.

To graph 5x + 10y = 20
Find the x-intercept: Find the y-intercept:
5x + 10(0) = 20 5(0) + 10y = 20
5x = 20 10y = 20
x=4 y=2
Plot the points and draw the line through them.
14 y
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
x
-14 -13 -12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5
-6
-7
-8
-9
-10
-11
-12
-13
-14
Graphing Horizontal and Vertical Lines
x = a (vertical line), y = c (horizontal line)
Equations of the form x = a have no y in them so they never cross
the y-axis, they might be on the y-axis but they do not cross it.
Every point that has a value of
x = a is on the line so you get a line that goes straight up and
down. Equations of the form y = c have no x in them so they never
cross the x-axis, they might be on the x-axis but they do not cross
it. Every point that has a value of y = c is on the line so you get a
line that goes horizontally left to right.

To graph the equation x = 5, pick two points that have x = 5 and

two different y values. Try (5,2) and (5, -4), plot these points below
and draw a line through them. Try the same thing for y = 2. Pick
two points with y = 2 and two different x values. Try (1,2) and (7,
2). Plot these and draw a line through them.
14 y
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
x
-14 -13 -12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5
-6
-7
-8
-9
-10
-11
-12
-13
-14