Calculating the slope of a line

Help Questions

GMAT Quantitative › Calculating the slope of a line

Questions 1 - 10
1

Give the slope of the line of the equation:

Explanation

Rewrite in the slope-intercept form :

The slope is the coefficient of , which is .

2

Fill in the circle with a number so that the graph of the resulting equation has slope :

None of the other responses is correct.

Explanation

Let be that missing coefficient. Then the equation can be rewritten as

Put the equation in slope-intercept form:

The coefficient of is the slope, so solve for in the equation

3

Fill in the circle with a number so that the graph of the resulting equation has slope 4:

It is impossible to do this.

Explanation

Once a number is filled in, the equation will be in slope-intercept form

,

so the coefficient of will be the slope of the line of the equation. Regardless of the number that is written in the circle, this coefficient, and the slope, will be 6, so the slope cannot be 4.

4

Fill in the circle with a number so that the graph of the resulting equation is a horizontal line:

The graph cannot be a horizontal line no matter what number is written.

is the only number that works.

is the only number that works.

is the only number that works.

The graph is a horizontal line no matter what number is written.

Explanation

The equation of a horizontal line takes the form for some value of . Regardless of what is written, the equation cannot take this form.

5

Examine these two equations.

Write a number in the box so that the lines of the two equations will have the same slope.

Explanation

Write the first equation in slope-intercept form:

The coefficient of , which here is , is the slope of the line.

Now, let be the nuimber in the box, and rewrite the second equation as

Write in slope-intercept form:

The slope is , which is set to :

6

Fill in the square and the circle with two numbers so that the line of resulting equation has slope :

in the square and in the circle

in the square and in the circle

in the square and in the circle

in the square and in the circle

None of the other responses is correct.

Explanation

Let and be those missing numbers. Then the equation can be rewritten as

Put the equation in slope-intercept form:

The coefficient of is the slope, so solve for in the equation

The number in the circle is irrelevant, so the correct choice is that goes in the square and goes in the circle.

7

Fill in the circle with a number so that the graph of the resulting equation has slope 4:

Explanation

Let be that missing coefficient. Then the equation can be rewritten as

Put the equation in slope-intercept form:

The coefficient of is the slope, so solve for in the equation

8

Give the slope of the line with the equation .

Explanation

Rewrite in slope-intercept form:

The slope is the coefficient of , which is .

9

What is the slope of the line that contains and ?

Explanation

The slope formula is:

10

What is the slope of the line ?

Explanation

Rewrite this equation in slope-intercept form: , where is the slope.

The slope is the coefficient of , which is .

Page 1 of 2
Return to subject