7th Grade Math

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Slope

PART A B C DE

Multi-Part

Lesson 2

GLE 0706.3.6

Conceptualize the meanings

of slope using various

interpretations,

representations, and

contexts. SPI 0706.3.4

Interpret the slope of a line

as a unit rate given the

graph of a proportional

relationship. Also addresses

GLE 0706.1.5, GLE 0706.3.5,

GLE 0706.3.7.

396 Linear Functions

Slope

BOOKS Hero Comics is a company that publishes comic books. They

typically recycle the original copies after the binding process. The

table below shows the total number of pounds of paper that has been

recycled each day during the month.

1. Is the relationship linear?
   Explain.


2. Create a graph of the
   function. Use two points from the graph to find the constant rate
   of change.

In a linear relation, the vertical change (change in y-value) per unit of

horizontal change (change in x-value) is always the same. This ratio

is called the slope of the function. The constant rate of change, or unit

rate of a function, is the same as the slope of the related linear

function. The slope tells how steep the line is.

C06-05A_NA_874046-A

Slope

Slope is the rate of change between any

two points on a line.

slope =

change in y

_

change in x

vertical change

horizontal change

= _^21 or 2

3

4

5

2

1

0 12345 x

y

The vertical change is sometimes called “rise” while the horizontal

change is called “run.” You can say that slope = _riserun.

Main Idea

Identify slope using

tables and graphs.

Vocabulary

slope

V

s

391_400_C07_L2_895130.indd 396 12/31/09 4:26 PM