What is point-slope form?

Slope Formula

The slope (rate of change) of the line through two points.

m = \frac{y _{2} - y _{1}}{x _{2} - x _{1}}

Variables

(x₁, y₁), (x₂, y₂): Two points on the line
m: Slope

Explanation

Slope is rise over run: the change in y divided by the change in x. Parallel lines have equal slopes; perpendicular lines have slopes whose product is −1.

Example

Through $(1, 2)$ and $(4, 8)$ : $m = \frac{8 - 2}{4 - 1} = 2$ .

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Frequently asked questions

Related formulas

Distance Formula

Distance between two points in the plane.

Midpoint Formula

The point halfway between two points.