What Does the Slope of a Line Mean?

Note:

You can't learn about linear equations without learning about slope. The slope of a line is the steepness of the line. There are many ways to think about slope. Slope is the rise over the run, the change in 'y' over the change in 'x', or the gradient of a line. Check out this tutorial to learn about slope!

Keywords:

definition
slope
meaning
steepness
steeper
compare slopes

Background Tutorials

Defining Slope
- What Does Negative Slope Mean?
  
  What does a negative slope mean? What does the graph of a negative slope look like? Find the answers to these questions by watching this tutorial!
- What Does Positive Slope Mean?
  
  What does a positive slope mean? What does the graph of a positive slope look like? Find the answers to these questions by watching this tutorial!
- What is Rate of Change?
  
  Trying to describe the how something changes in relation to something else? Use rate of change! In this tutorial, learn about rate of change and see the difference between positive and negative rates of change!
Horizontal and Vertical Lines
- What Are Vertical Lines?
  
  You may be able to guess that vertical lines are lines that go straight up and down, but did you know that all vertical lines have the same slope? In this tutorial, learn all about vertical lines including their slope and what the equation of a vertical line looks like!
- What Are Horizontal Lines?
  
  Ever look at the horizon when the sun is rising or setting? Know why it's called the horizon? It's a horizontal line! And just like the horizon, horizontal lines go straight left and right. In this tutorial, you'll learn all about horizontal lines including their slope and what the equation of a horizontal line looks like.