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=Slope and its applications in Algebra.=

Slope is the ratio of the change in the vertical direction to the corresponding change in the horizontal direction.

1. If you know two points, A(x1, y1) and B(x2, y2), that are on the line, then you can find the slope of the line. You use the following formula: slope = y2- y1/ x2- x1. Make sure to reduce the fraction.
 * Different ways to find the slope of a line. **

2. Slope can also be found if an equation of the line is written in slop-intercept form. Slope intercept for is y=mx+b, where m is the slope. Slope is the coefficient of x.


 * The different types of slope. **

Slopes can be positive, negative, zero, and undefined.If the slope is positive, then the line goes up and to the right. If the slope is negative, then the line goes down and to the right. If the slope is zero, then the line is a horizontal. If the slope is undefined, then the line is vertical.


 * Applications of slope. **

1. Slope is a very useful in helping graph a line. If you know the slope of the line and a point the line goes through, then you can plot the point and use the slope to create another point the line goes through. Slope is usually represented as a fraction. The numerator represents the change in the vertical direction, so that number lets you know how many units you go up or down. The denominator represents the change in horizontal direction, so that number lets you know how many units you go left or right. Example: slope = 4/5 and the line goes through the point (1, 2). You first plot the point (1, 2) and from there you move up 4 then right 5, and this is where another point on the line is. You plot this point and draw a line through these two points.

2. Parallel lines. If two lines are parallel, then they have the same slope.

3. Perpendicular lines. If two lines are perpendicular then the slopes are opposite reciprocals of each other. Example: If slope is 4/5, then perpendicular slope is -5/4.