


The fact that delta-x is zero means that the slope of the line is undefined. Plug in the values of the coordinates into the formula.īecause the x-coordinates are identical, the value for delta-x is zero.īut we know that a ratio cannot have zero in the denominator. To find the slope of the line connecting these two points, use the slope formula, as shown here. Notice that both points have the same x-coordinate, 1. It also means that each point has the same x-coordinate. Since the y-axis is a vertical axis, that means a line with an undefined slope is a vertical line. If you connect the points with a line, you'll see that this line is parallel with the y-axis. That means the two points are in this relative position. If delta-x equals zero, that means there is no horizontal separation between the two points. Let's place two points on a coordinate grid, like this.ĭelta-x is the horizontal separation between the two points. What does "delta-x equals zero" correspond to? In order for the slope ratio to have a zero denominator, that means that delta-x would have to equal zero. That's because division by zero is undefined. When calculating slopes, the ratio is one number divided by another number.īy definition a ratio cannot have a denominator of zero. Slope is defined as the ratio of the change in the y-coordinates over the change in the x-coordinates. Your browser does not support the video tag.

Watch this video to learn about undefined slope. The slope of the line that crosses these two points has a slope of 1. That means that 7 minus 3 in the numerator and 6 - 2 in the denominator. Take those coordinates and plug them into the slope formula. For the purposes of the slope formula, let's call these coordinates x1 and y1, and let's call these coordinates x2 and y 2. To find the slope of the line that crosses these two points, use the slope formula. This point has coordinates 2, 3 and this point has coordinates 6,7. Use those coordinates in the slope formula to calculate the slope. This one has coordinates x1 and y1 and this one has coordinates x2 and y2. When you know the coordinates of two points, use this version of the slope formula. In terms of the coordinates, it is the ratio in the difference in the y coordinates over the difference in the x coordinates. It is the ratio of the Rise over the Run, or the ratio of this vertical distance over this horizontal distance. Use it when you want to find the slope of the line that connects two points.
