In mathematics, the slope or gradient of a line is a number that describes both the direction and the steepness of the line. Slope is often denoted by the letter m; there is no clear answer to the question why the letter m is used for slope, but its earliest use in English appears in O'Brien (1844) who wrote the equation of a straight line as "y = mx + b" and it can also be found in Todhunter (1888) who wrote it as "y = mx + c".Slope is calculated by finding the ratio of the "vertical change" to the "horizontal change" between (any) two distinct points on a line. Sometimes the ratio is expressed as a quotient ("rise over run"), giving the same number for every two distinct points on the same line. A line that is decreasing has a negative "rise". The line may be practical - as set by a road surveyor, or in a diagram that models a road or a roof either as a description or as a plan.
The steepness, incline, or grade of a line is measured by the absolute value of the slope. A slope with a greater absolute value indicates a steeper line. The direction of a line is either increasing, decreasing, horizontal or vertical.
A line is increasing if it goes up from left to right. The slope is positive, i.e.
m
>
0
{\displaystyle m>0}
.
A line is decreasing if it goes down from left to right. The slope is negative, i.e.
m
<
0
{\displaystyle m<0}
.
If a line is horizontal the slope is zero. This is a constant function.
If a line is vertical the slope is undefined (see below).The rise of a road between two points is the difference between the altitude of the road at those two points, say y1 and y2, or in other words, the rise is (y2 − y1) = Δy. For relatively short distances, where the earth's curvature may be neglected, the run is the difference in distance from a fixed point measured along a level, horizontal line, or in other words, the run is (x2 − x1) = Δx. Here the slope of the road between the two points is simply described as the ratio of the altitude change to the horizontal distance between any two points on the line.
In mathematical language, the slope m of the line is
m
=
y
2
−
y
1
x
2
−
x
1
.
{\displaystyle m={\frac {y_{2}-y_{1}}{x_{2}-x_{1}}}.}
The concept of slope applies directly to grades or gradients in geography and civil engineering. Through trigonometry, the slope m of a line is related to its angle of incline θ by the tangent function
m
=
tan
(
θ
)
{\displaystyle m=\tan(\theta )}
Thus, a 45° rising line has a slope of +1 and a 45° falling line has a slope of −1.
As a generalization of this practical description, the mathematics of differential calculus defines the slope of a curve at a point as the slope of the tangent line at that point. When the curve is given by a series of points in a diagram or in a list of the coordinates of points, the slope may be calculated not at a point but between any two given points. When the curve is given as a continuous function, perhaps as an algebraic formula, then the differential calculus provides rules giving a formula for the slope of the curve at any point in the middle of the curve.
This generalization of the concept of slope allows very complex constructions to be planned and built that go well beyond static structures that are either horizontals or verticals, but can change in time, move in curves, and change depending on the rate of change of other factors. Thereby, the simple idea of slope becomes one of the main basis of the modern world in terms of both technology and the built environment.
I am currently analyzing my data for the physical chemistry magnetic susceptibility lab. All the data is giving nice, smooth graphs for force vs. current, but I am unable to linearize them.
F = \frac{1}{2}\chi\mu_{0}AH^{2}
I have plotted force vs. current and force vs. current squared...
On a log plot in the x axis, if I have a slope of -6 db/octave from 100db, what would be the location of the new coordinate?
So the y-axis is db and the x-axis is in log.
First coordinate is \((10^2, 100)\) then a slope of -6. The second coordinate is \((10^3, ?)\)?
How does one determine...
Find the slope of the tangent line to the curve f(x)=x-x^3 at the point (1,0)
So, I went through and plugged (a+h) in everywhere I saw "x"
(a+h)-(a+h)^3
Factoring:
(a+h-a^3-3a^2h-3ah^2-h^3)
I'm really stuck on what to do next...I don't see anything you can cancel/pull out? I know...
Hello,
I am working on a problem. I am trying to get an equation for this linear line with these traits:
slope = 5/6
linear equation that passes through [1,3]therefore using this formula
y=mx+b
3=5/6[1]+b
b=13/6
therefore, the equation is
y=5/6[x] + 13/6
However, the answer given is
y...
So I am a little confused about how to calculate the error uncertainty of a slope. Let's say I have data points (1,2), (2,2.75), (3,3.75), (4,4.7), (5,5.5) which when put in excel gives me a slope of .895. Let's say the error uncertainty for every point is +/-0.1. What I used to do is subtract...
The question was too long to post in the title so I just wrote down the first part. I hope this is alright. Here is the question that I am doing right now:
This is the graphical representation (thanks to Desmos Graphing Calculator):
So I have substituted the points in the equation to get...
The problem is to a.) solve for the slope m of the hypotenuse of the right triangle indicated by the shaded area, and b.) solve for the length of the hypotenuse, if possible. I made a mistake in transcribing the problem onto paper, the line of course extends indefinitely but the shaded area and...
A lot of websites say that if you take the slope of a voltage vs time graph, you get the current. However, the math tells a different story.
where V = voltage, J = joules, C = coulombs, A = amperes, s = seconds
A = C / s
C = A * s
V = J / C
J = C / V
if we take the slope of Voltage...
I derived a formula for the acceleration of a ball of uniform mass rolling down a slope at some angle to the vertical, without slipping and did so in terms of kinetic energy and potential energy!
I was then posed the question if the same ball was to slide down the same surface but this time...
For this problem, I think that something is wrong with my moment equation, I am not sue how to find the loading as a function of x for this triangle shape.
Do I need to account for the sections 0 < x < L/2 and L/2 < x < L??
Hi guy's, I've got an interesting problem in my coursework, I have to say I am stumped, so here it is.
A hollow sphere of mass 56 grams, starts at rest and is allowed to roll without slipping 2 metres down a slope at an angle of 25 degrees. Gravity is assumed as 10 ms^2. clculate the velocity...
Homework Statement
A 42.5kg person is going down a hill sloped at 42.0 degrees.
The coefficient of kinetic friction between the snow and skis is 0.180.
How fast is the skier going 4.56 seconds after starting from rest?
Homework Equations
ffkmax=coefficient of kinetic...
So being as much of a simpleton as me I don't understand slope intercept form. I can graph simple linear equations like x=y+3 and things like that but I want to learn about slope intercept form and what it is(I have been entreating people like my friends, math teacher and parents to help me so...
Homework Statement an object is at rest on a slope at angle of σ
Using trigonometry, solve the forces acting at Ft and Fn
Homework Equations
Soh
Cah
Toa
The Attempt at a Solution
sin σ = G/Ft
sin σ /Ft = G
G/ sin σ = Ft (my final answer)
Book says correct answer is Ft = G sinσFn = ? I...
Homework Statement
Slope of the curve at the point x=0 of the function y=y(x) specified implicitly as \displaystyle \int_0^y e^{-t^2} dt + \int_0^x \cos t^2 dt = 0 is
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
Differentiating both sides wrt x
e^{-y^2} \frac{dy}{dx} + \cos x^2 = 0...
neglecting friction from the slope and air resistance,
what are the possible forces acting on the ball?
i can only think of 2:
gravitational force by the Earth on the ball.
normal force exerted by the slope on the ball.
are there any other forces else that i missed out?
Hello,
I have a graph of a tensile test of a metal sample, and I wish to find the slope on the graph of only the elastic region of the graph, meaning of the entire graph, there is only one section of it that I am interested in finding the slope for.
Is there a way in excel to make it such...
Homework Statement
What is the terminal speed for an 75.0kg skier going down a 35.0∘ snow-covered slope on wooden skis μk= 0.060?
Assume that the skier is 1.60m tall and 0.300m wide.
Express your answer using two significant figures with the appropriate units.
Area skier = A =...
Homework Statement
The differential equation is y' = y^2
Draw a direction field for the given differential equation.
Based on the direction field, determine the behavior of y as t →∞. If this behavior depends
on the initial value of y at t =0, describe this dependency.Homework Equations
The...
Hi guys,
Homework Statement
I'm trying to find the theoretical time it takes for a glue stick to roll down an inclined plane of 10 degrees. We then have to compare it to the practical value, which was 1.09 secs.(Average over 10 repetitions). The glue stick has a mass of 10g. The distance of...
Homework Statement
The sample question explains how I can use superposition to determine the slope and deflection of the beam. I have made a picture of the page. I know how to use the method as I've used it on other, much difficult problems. However, this sample problem has been stuck in my...
I'm trying to deduce the forces acting on a cyclist going up a hill and I need help. There's 2 questions:
Q.1
I've looked at online calculator already in existence:
http://www.analyticcycling.com/ForcesPower_Page.html
http://www.gribble.org/cycling/power_v_speed.html
What puzzles me...
Hi,
I am hoping someone here could help me understand the finite slope of the counting plateau in Geiger Muller Tubes.
Master Knoll says this,
"In real cases, the counting plateau always shows some finite slope, as shown in Fig. 7.5b.
Any effect that adds a low-amplitude tail to the...
Graphing diff eq slope field with TI Nspire CX CAS HELP please!?
Every time I try to graph a slope field an error message pops up saying 'wrong number of initial conditions'. What does this mean? I tried graphing equations like dy/dt = t^(2) + t or dy/dt = 1-2y but I keep getting that dumb...
Problem:
The height of a hill (in meters) is given by [z=(2xy)-(3x^2)-(4y^2)-(18x)+(28y)+12], where x is the distance east, y is the distance north of the origin. In which compass direction is the slope at x=y=1 the steepest?
Solution (so far):
Does it have something to do with the...
As given by the attached question, we are given:
The force on the pulley, 51N
The angle of the pulley, 31 degrees
The mass of the box, 15 kg
The angle of the incline, 31 degrees
The kinetic friction coefficient, 0.5
I think the relevant equations are:
ƩFy = 0;
ƩFx = ma...
What is the radius of curvature formula for an ellipse at slope = 1?
I have found b^2/a, and a^2/b for the major and minor axis, but nothing for slope = 1.
Thanks.
Look at the image!As the box gets thinner,the slope of the box decreases.and I think, if the thinning is constant i.e.(It gets thinner by dividing it's width each step),the rate of sloping decreases.Is this right?
If the above is correct,The thinnest line should be able to slope to 0.
Am I...
Basing on the units, the velocity vs time is equal to acceleration. What about the velocity vs time squared and distance vs time squared graph?
Is the slope of the distance vs time squared graph one half of the acceleration? If it does, please explain.. :)
Hi all. I am marking GCSE paper that I did myself. There is 1 problem that I do not seems to understand. Please help me. Thank you very much.
Homework Statement
Daniel pulls a 3kg box up a slope from rest as shown (Attached)
Given that the average friction of a slope is 2N and the speed at...
Hello.
I've searched the internet hard but couldn't find anything about this so i decided to ask this to physicsforums.
If a car is up a slope with friction and it's stopping(balanced) by using the gas pedal, what is the energy consumed by the motor of the car? I know F.x is 0 in this...
A snow sled, with total mass 80.0 kg, is lowered at constant speed down a slope of angle 60.0° with respect to the horizontal, for a distance d = 14.0 m. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the sled and the snow is 0.290.
Note: g = 9.80 m s–2.
1. What is the work done by the friction...
Homework Statement
Calculate a function of theta that gives the slope of the tangent line (dy/dx) to the polar curve r at some angle theta.
Homework Equations
dy/dx= f'(theta)sin(theta) + f(theta)cos(theta)/[f'(theta)cos(theta) - f(theta) sin(theta)]
The Attempt at a Solution
I am...
In a series of experiments, block B is to be placed in a thermally insulated container with
block A, which has the same mass as blockB. In each experiment, block B is initially at a certain temperature TB, but temperature TA of block A is changed from experiment to experiment. Let Tf
represent...
Homework Statement
A straight line L with negative slope passes through the point (8,2) and cuts the positive coordinate axes at points P and Q. As L varies, what is the absolute minimum value of OP + OQ?
The attempt at a solution
Let x and y be two points on the line.
Using the slope...
Homework Statement
The function f(x)=5x2+3e2x is invertible. Give the slope of the normal line to the graph of f-1 at x=3
Homework Equations
(f-1)'(x)=1/f'(f-1(x))
The slope of the normal line × the slope of the tangent =-1
So basically I just need to find -f'(f-1(x)) at x=3
The Attempt at a...
1. A skier of mass 51.4 kg comes down a slope of constant angle 26◦ with the horizontal. What force normal to the slope is exerted by the skis (neglect friction)? The acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s^2.
Homework Equations
F=ma
The Attempt at a Solution
my intuitions tell me to...
Hi,
Say we have f(x) = sin(x), then f'(x) = cos(x) and f''(x) = -sin(x)
Let x = π/2, the slope at that point is zero: cos(x) = 0. The second derivative gives, -sin(x) = -1: that means the slope of the first derivative at point x is negative. Thus for the next closest value to x, the slope...
Homework Statement
I have a graph of time squared vs. height. It shows the relationship between the height of a ball and how long it takes for it to fall, squared. I don't have this in the form of a question, but I need to use the slope, which is 0.211 s^2/m, and turn it into a value for...
I'm looking at a general problem in which a skier is going downhill. I understand 'mathematically' how the mass will cancel out of the final equation when calculating the acceleration, but I don't understand this 'conceptually'. Can anyone describe?
For simple differential equations like y'=y(y-3) where there 2 roots, is it possible for y to approach y=root for both roots? Or must one diverge while the other converges? For multiple roots, can it only converge on one root, the others all diverging?
If it can converge on multiple roots...
Homework Statement
The mass of the ball: 136 G
Length of the slope that its sliding down: 132 Cm
Angle of the slope that its sliding down: 11,5228 °
All I have to do, is to find the velocity, and the acceleration of the ball. Though my teacher has given us no time at all for this project...
Here is the question:
Here is a link to the question:
Distance formula problem? - Yahoo! Answers
I have posted a link there to this topic so the OP can find my response.
There is a ball placed on a frictionless slope. As we all know that, since there is no friction, the ball will not rotate. But after drawing a free-body-diagram and decomposing the gravity, we find that the net force mgsinθ has a torque relative to the contacting point with the value of mgsinθR...
Does anybody (Jester?) know how to get WolframAlpha to plot slope fields to, say, $y'=f(x,y)$? For example, $y'=x^{2}$, and I want the slope field plotted up with $x\in[-2,2]$ and $y\in[-2,2]$. What would the actual command be?
Thanks in advance!
For the slope, I got 0.4532 and for B, I got 74.09, but they're both wrong! And my excel program keeps crashing everytime i try to print screen it!
This is really urgent and I don't know who else to turn to because this is due very very soon and I'm desperate!
Also, what about this one:
Because of brake failure, an automobile parked on a hill of slope 1:10 rolls 12 m downhill and strikes a parked automobile. The mass of the first automobile is 1400 kg, and the mass of the second automobile is 800 kg. Assume that the first auto- mobile rolls without friction and that the...
...I've been calculating this for years...but for some reason thought about it today, and am having a brain f#rt!
I suspect I've been mis-calculating all this time. Math help please to calculate PERCENT slope :)
Le's say I am driving (one way up a hill), and the following stats are the...
Hi!
Suppose we are required to analyse the general tendency of a set of joined line segments (to increase or decrease) as shown in the figure, which would be a more accurate method?
1.) Take individual slopes of each line segment and compute the average of all such slopes.
2.)...