SSAT Upper Level Math : How to find slope

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SSAT Upper Level Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : How To Find Slope

What is the slope of the line that passes through the points \(\displaystyle (-1,4) \text{ and } (-5,1)\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{4}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle -\frac{4}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{4}\)

\(\displaystyle -\frac{3}{4}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{4}\)

Explanation:

Use the following formula to find the slope:

\(\displaystyle \text{Slope}=\frac{y_2-y_1}{x_2-x_1}\)

Substituting the values from the points given, we get the following slope:

\(\displaystyle \text{Slope}=\frac{1-4}{-5-(-1)}=\frac{-3}{-4}=\frac{3}{4}\)

Example Question #1 : How To Find Slope

Find the slope of a line that passes through the points \(\displaystyle (17,2)\) and \(\displaystyle (-2, -1)\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle -\frac{3}{19}\)

\(\displaystyle -\frac{19}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{19}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{19}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{19}\)

Explanation:

To find the slope of the line that passes through the given points, you can use the slope equation.

\(\displaystyle \text{Slope}=\frac{y_2-y_1}{x_2-x_1}\)

\(\displaystyle \text{Slope}=\frac{-1-2}{-2-17}=\frac{-3}{-19}=\frac{3}{19}\)

Example Question #2 : How To Find Slope

Find the slope of the line that passes through the points \(\displaystyle (a, b)\) and \(\displaystyle (2, 3)\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{3-b}{2-a}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{2-a}{3-b}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{2-b}{3-a}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{3-a}{2-b}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{3-b}{2-a}\)

Explanation:

To find the slope of the line that passes through the given points, you can use the slope equation.

\(\displaystyle \text{Slope}=\frac{y_2-y_1}{x_2-x_1}\)

\(\displaystyle \text{Slope}=\frac{3-b}{2-a}\)

Example Question #2 : How To Find Slope

A line has the equation \(\displaystyle 5x-9y=12\). What is the slope of this line?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle -\frac{4}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle 9\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{9}{5}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{9}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{9}\)

Explanation:

You need to put the equation in \(\displaystyle y=mx+b\) form before you can easily find out its slope.

\(\displaystyle 5x-9y=12\)

\(\displaystyle -9y=-5x+12\)

\(\displaystyle y=\frac{5}{9}x-\frac{4}{3}\)

Since \(\displaystyle m=\frac{5}{9}\), that must be the slope.

Example Question #483 : Ssat Upper Level Quantitative (Math)

Find the slope of the line that goes through the points \(\displaystyle (4t, 8s)\) and \(\displaystyle (2t, -9s)\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{6t}{-s}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{2t}{17s}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{-s}{6t}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{17s}{2t}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{17s}{2t}\)

Explanation:

Even though there are variables involved in the coordinates of these points, you can still use the slope formula to figure out the slope of the line that connects them.

\(\displaystyle \text{Slope}=\frac{y_2-y_1}{x_2-x_1}\)

\(\displaystyle \text{Slope}=\frac{-9s-8s}{2t-4t}=\frac{-17s}{-2t}=\frac{17s}{2t}\)

Example Question #1 : How To Find Slope

The equation of a line is \(\displaystyle 12x-8y=6\). Find the slope of this line.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle -\frac{3}{4}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle -\frac{3}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{4}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{2}\)

Explanation:

To find the slope, you will need to put the equation in \(\displaystyle y=mx+b\) form. The value of \(\displaystyle m\) will be the slope.

\(\displaystyle 12x-8y=6\)

Subtract \(\displaystyle 6\) from either side:

\(\displaystyle 8y=12x-6\)

Divide each side by \(\displaystyle 8\):

\(\displaystyle y=\frac{3}{2}x-\frac{3}{4}\)

You can now easily identify the value of \(\displaystyle m\).

\(\displaystyle m=\frac{3}{2}\)

Example Question #3 : How To Find Slope

Find the slope of the line that passes through the points \(\displaystyle (0,3)\) and \(\displaystyle (8,1)\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle -4\)

\(\displaystyle -\frac{1}{4}\)

\(\displaystyle 4\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -\frac{1}{4}\)

Explanation:

You can use the slope formula to figure out the slope of the line that connects these two points. Just substitute the specified coordinates into the equation and then subtract:

\(\displaystyle \text{Slope}=\frac{y_2-y_1}{x_2-x_1}\)

\(\displaystyle \text{Slope}=\frac{3-1}{0-8}=\frac{2}{-8}=-\frac{1}{4}\)

Example Question #1 : Slope

Find the slope of the following function:  \(\displaystyle 2x-6y=3\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 3\)

\(\displaystyle -3\)

\(\displaystyle -6\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle 2\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{3}\)

Explanation:

Rewrite the equation in slope-intercept form, \(\displaystyle y=mx+b\).

\(\displaystyle 2x-6y=3\)

\(\displaystyle 2x=3+6y\)

\(\displaystyle 2x-3=6y\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{2x-3}{6}=y\)

\(\displaystyle y=\frac{1}{3}x-\frac{1}{2}\)

The slope is the \(\displaystyle m\) term, which is \(\displaystyle \frac{1}{3}\).

Example Question #3 : How To Find Slope

Find the slope of the line given the two points: \(\displaystyle (5,8) \textup{ and } (-3,-7)\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{8}{15}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{4}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle -\frac{15}{8}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{15}{8}\)

\(\displaystyle -\frac{8}{15}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{15}{8}\)

Explanation:

Write the formula to find the slope.

\(\displaystyle m=\frac{y_2-y_1}{x_2-x_1}=\frac{y_1-y_2}{x_1-x_2}\)

Either equation will work.  Let's choose the latter.  Substitute the points.

\(\displaystyle m=\frac{y_1-y_2}{x_1-x_2}=\frac{8-(-7)}{5-(-3)}= \frac{15}{8}\)

Example Question #132 : Grade 8

What is the slope of the line with the equation \(\displaystyle 2x+3y=-9?\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 2\)

\(\displaystyle -\frac{3}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle -\frac{2}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle 3\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -\frac{2}{3}\)

Explanation:

To find the slope, put the equation in the form of \(\displaystyle y=mx+b\).

\(\displaystyle 2x+3y=-9\)

\(\displaystyle 3y=-2x-9\)

\(\displaystyle y=-\frac{2}{3}x-3\)

Since \(\displaystyle m=-\frac{2}{3}\), that is the value of the slope.

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