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Mathematics vocabulary · Functions and Graphs

Slope

Meaning in mathematics, with examples

/sloʊp/nounCore term

In mathematics, slope means: A number that measures how steep a line is: the change in y divided by the change in x between any two points on the line.

In Turkish: eğim

How it is used

In y = mx + b the slope is m. People say 'rise over run' to remember the formula. A positive slope goes up from left to right and a negative slope goes down. British English usually says 'gradient'.

Example sentences

  1. The line through (1, 2) and (3, 8) has a slope of 3.

  2. Parallel lines have the same slope.

Common collocations

  • slope of a line
  • positive slope
  • negative slope
  • slope-intercept form
  • rise over run
  • linearRelated to a straight line; a linear equation or function has no power of the variable higher than 1, so its graph is a straight line.
  • interceptA point where a graph crosses one of the axes; the y-intercept of y = 2x + 3 is 3, because the line crosses the y-axis at (0, 3).
  • graphA drawing that shows the relationship between quantities, especially all the points (x, y) of a function shown on a pair of axes.
  • derivativeA function that gives the rate of change of another function at each point, which is the slope of its graph there; the derivative of x² is 2x.
  • parallelAlways the same distance apart and never meeting, however far they are extended; used of lines, planes and the sides of shapes.

More terms: Functions and Graphs

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