document.write( "Question 1101425: how to find a slope ona graph when theres more than one coordinate \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #715989 by math_helper(2461) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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It differs based on the TYPE of graph/function.
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\n" ); document.write( "If the graph is that of a straight line, then 2 points are all you need. The letter m is often used to denote the slope of a straight line:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " m = (y2-y1)/(x2-x1) \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " where (x1,y1) and (x2,y2) are the two points on the line.
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\n" ); document.write( "For higher order lines (curves), you need to take the derivative of the function represented by the graph. The derivative is the slope of a tangent line to the curve at a given point.
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\n" ); document.write( "For example, if y = x^2 then dy/dx = 2x. So the slope of a line tangent to x^2 at, say, x=3, is 2*3=6. The slope of the tangent line at, say, x=6, is 2*6=12 (in contrast to the straight line case, notice how the slope changes). \n" ); document.write( "

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