GRE Math : Geometry

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Slope Of A Line

What is the slope  of a line passing through the point , if it is defined by:

?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Since the equation is defined as it is, you know the y-intercept is .  This is the point .  To find the slope of the line, you merely need to use the two points that you have and find the equation:

Example Question #3 : How To Find The Slope Of A Line

Line1

Which of the following could be an equation for the red line pictured above?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

There are two key facts to register about this drawing.  First, the line clearly has a negative slope, given that it runs "downhill" when you look at it from left to right.  Secondly, it has a positive y-intercept.  Therefore, you know that the coefficient for the  term must be negative, and the numerical coefficient for the y-intercept must be positive.  This only occurs in the equation .  Therefore, this is the only viable option.

Example Question #2 : How To Find The Slope Of A Line

What is the slope of a line defined by the equation:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

A question like this is actually rather easy.  All you need to do is rewrite the equation in slope intercept form, that is:

Therefore, begin to simplify:

Becomes...

Then...

Finally, divide both sides by :

The coefficient for the  term is your slope: 

Example Question #3 : How To Find The Slope Of A Line

What is the slope of line 3 = 8y - 4x?

Possible Answers:

0.5

-0.5

2

-2

Correct answer:

0.5

Explanation:

Solve equation for y. y=mx+b, where m is the slope

Example Question #31 : Lines

Find the slope of the line  6X – 2Y = 14

 

Possible Answers:

12

-3

3

-6

Correct answer:

3

Explanation:

Put the equation in slope-intercept form:

y = mx + b

-2y = -6x +14

y = 3x – 7

The slope of the line is represented by M; therefore the slope of the line is 3.

 

Example Question #4 : How To Find The Slope Of A Line

If 2x – 4y = 10, what is the slope of the line?

Possible Answers:

–2

0.5

2

–5/2

–0.5

Correct answer:

0.5

Explanation:

First put the equation into slope-intercept form, solving for y: 2x – 4y = 10 → –4y = –2x + 10 → y = 1/2*x – 5/2. So the slope is 1/2.

Example Question #21 : Other Lines

What is the slope of the line with equation 4x – 16y = 24?

Possible Answers:

–1/4

1/2

1/8

1/4

–1/8

Correct answer:

1/4

Explanation:

The equation of a line is:

y = mx + b, where m is the slope

4x – 16y = 24

–16y = –4x + 24

y = (–4x)/(–16) + 24/(–16)

y = (1/4)x – 1.5

Slope = 1/4

Example Question #3 : Other Lines

What is the slope of a line which passes through coordinates \dpi{100} \small (3,7) and \dpi{100} \small (4,12)?

Possible Answers:

\dpi{100} \small 3

\dpi{100} \small \frac{1}{5}

\dpi{100} \small 2

\dpi{100} \small \frac{1}{2}

\dpi{100} \small 5

Correct answer:

\dpi{100} \small 5

Explanation:

Slope is found by dividing the difference in the \dpi{100} \small y-coordinates by the difference in the \dpi{100} \small x-coordinates.

\dpi{100} \small \frac{(12-7)}{(4-3)}=\frac{5}{1}=5

Example Question #41 : Coordinate Geometry

What is the slope of the line represented by the equation 6y-16x=7 ?

Possible Answers:

16

6

-16

\frac{8}{3}

\frac{7}{6}

Correct answer:

\frac{8}{3}

Explanation:

To rearrange the equation into a y=mx+b format, you want to isolate the y so that it is the sole variable, without a coefficient, on one side of the equation.

First, add 11x to both sides to get 6y=7+16x .

Then, divide both sides by 6 to get y=\frac{7+16x}{6} .

If you divide each part of the numerator by 6, you get y=\frac{7}{6}+\frac{16x}{6} . This is in a y=b+mx form, and the m is equal to \frac{16}{6}, which is reduced down to \frac{8}{3} for the correct answer.

Example Question #222 : Geometry

What is the slope of the given linear equation?

2x + 4y = -7

Possible Answers:

-2

1/2

-1/2

-7/2

Correct answer:

-1/2

Explanation:

We can convert the given equation into slope-intercept form, y=mx+b, where m is the slope. We get y = (-1/2)x + (-7/2)

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