# Formula to find the slope of a line

The rise of a road between two points is the difference between the altitude of the road at those two points. There are three steps in calculating the slope of a straight line: First step, identify two points on the line; Second step, select one to be A(x_1, y_1) the other to be B(x_2, y_2); Last step, use the slope equation to calculate slope, m=(y_1-y_2)/(x_1-x_2).

For example, using the points, A(5, 7) and B(3, 5), we get m=(7-5)/(5-3) hArr m=2/2 hArr m=1.

Created with GeoGebra by Vitor Nunes

### Interactivity

Try to calculate the slope value of this line using the formula described above.

## Information

The idea of slope is something you encounter often in everyday life. Think about rolling a cart down a ramp or climbing a set of stairs. Both the ramp and the stairs have a slope. You can describe the slope, or steepness, of the ramp and stairs by considering horizontal and vertical movement along them. In conversation, you use words like “gradual” or “steep” to describe slope. Along a gradual slope, most of the movement is horizontal. Along a steep slope, the vertical movement is greater.