In mathematics, the slope or gradient of a line is a number that describes both the direction and the steepness of the line. Slope is often denoted by the letter m; there is no clear answer to the question why the letter m is used for slope, but its earliest use in English appears in O'Brien (1844) who wrote the equation of a straight line as "y = mx + b" and it can also be found in Tod hunter (1888) who wrote it as "y = mx + c".
Step-by-step explanation:
Steps for Graphing a Line With a Given Slope
Plot a point on the y-axis. (In the next lesson, Graphing with Slope Intercept Form, you will learn the exact point that needs to be plotted first. For right now, we are only focusing on slope.)
Look at the numerator of the slope. Count the rise from the point that you plotted. If the slope is positive, count up and if the slope is negative, count down.
Look at the denominator of the slope. Count the run to the right.
Plot your point.
Repeat the above steps from your second point to plot a third point if you wish.
Draw a straight line through your points.
