GMAT Math : Calculating the slope of a line

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Math

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Example Questions

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Example Question #92 : Coordinate Geometry

Fill in the circle with a number so that the graph of the resulting equation has slope :

Possible Answers:

None of the other responses is correct.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Let  be that missing coefficient. Then the equation can be rewritten as

Put the equation in slope-intercept form:

The coefficient of  is the slope, so solve for  in the equation

 

 

Example Question #93 : Coordinate Geometry

Fill in the circle with a number so that the graph of the resulting equation has slope 4:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Let  be that missing coefficient. Then the equation can be rewritten as 

Put the equation in slope-intercept form:

The coefficient of  is the slope, so solve for  in the equation

 

Example Question #94 : Coordinate Geometry

Examine these two equations.

Write a number in the box so that the lines of the two equations will have the same slope.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Write the first equation in slope-intercept form:

The coefficient of , which here is , is the slope of the line. 

 

Now, let  be the nuimber in the box, and rewrite the second equation as

Write in slope-intercept form:

The slope is , which is set to :

Example Question #11 : Calculating The Slope Of A Line

Fill in the circle with a number so that the graph of the resulting equation is a horizontal line:

Possible Answers:

The graph cannot be a horizontal line no matter what number is written.

 is the only number that works.

 is the only number that works.

 is the only number that works.

The graph is a horizontal line no matter what number is written.

Correct answer:

The graph cannot be a horizontal line no matter what number is written.

Explanation:

The equation of a horizontal line takes the form  for some value of . Regardless of what is written, the equation cannot take this form.

Example Question #96 : Coordinate Geometry

Fill in the square and the circle with two numbers so that the line of resulting equation has slope :

Possible Answers:

 in the square and  in the circle

None of the other responses is correct.

 in the square and  in the circle

 in the square and  in the circle

 in the square and  in the circle

Correct answer:

 in the square and  in the circle

Explanation:

Let  and  be those missing numbers. Then the equation can be rewritten as 

Put the equation in slope-intercept form:

The coefficient of  is the slope, so solve for  in the equation

The number in the circle is irrelevant, so the correct choice is that  goes in the square and  goes in the circle.

Example Question #691 : Geometry

Fill in the circle with a number so that the graph of the resulting equation has slope 4:

Possible Answers:

It is impossible to do this.

Correct answer:

It is impossible to do this.

Explanation:

Once a number is filled in, the equation will be in slope-intercept form

,

so the coefficient of  will be the slope of the line of the equation. Regardless of the number that is written in the circle, this coefficient, and the slope, will be 6, so the slope cannot be 4.

Example Question #98 : Coordinate Geometry

Consider segment  which passes through the points  and .

What is the slope of ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Slope is found via:

Plug in and calculate:

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