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Algebra 7 Online
OpenStudy (anonymous):

How do I find if a slope is defined?

OpenStudy (daniel14):

examples?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

The slope is defined as long as the line isn't vertical. If two points have the same x-coordinate, the slope isn't defined.

OpenStudy (unklerhaukus):

The slope of a straight line is defined as the ratio of of the change in y-coordinate, to the change in x-coordinate: \[m = \frac{\Delta y}{\Delta x} = \frac{y_2-y_1}{x_2-x_1}\] As @peachpi points out, if \(x_2\) is the same value as \(x_1\), the fraction get a zero in the denominator. A fraction with a zero in the denominator is not mathematically equal to any number, meaning the slope would be undefined in this case.

OpenStudy (anonymous):

|dw:1455345424086:dw| This is an example of an undefined slope.

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