Understanding Slope
OBJECTIVE: To understand the concept of the slope
Observe that when you graph straight lines, the lines slant in different directions. The measure of this slant is called the slope, usually expressed as a ratio of two numbers: rise/run.
Grab one of the points and rotate it to complete a full circle. Observe the changes in the value of the fraction as well as the sign.
QUESTION 1: When is the slope a proper fraction? When is the slope a whole number? (Use rise and run in your answer.)
QUESTION 2: When is the slope positive and when is it negative? (Use directions such as: left, right, up, down in your answer.)