Algebra Practice Test 2026 – The Complete Guide to Mastering Your Exam Success!

The slope of a line is a crucial concept in algebra and geometry, as it quantitatively describes how steep the line is and in which direction it inclines or declines. More specifically, the slope is calculated as the "rise over run," which is the change in the vertical direction (rise) compared to the change in the horizontal direction (run) between two points on the line.

When the slope is positive, it indicates that the line rises as you move from left to right, while a negative slope shows that the line falls in that direction. A slope of zero means that the line is horizontal, and an undefined slope indicates a vertical line.

Understanding the slope helps in determining not only the steepness of the line but also its orientation in the coordinate plane, which is crucial for graphing linear equations and interpreting data trends. This is why the description of the slope as the steepness and direction of the line is accurate and essential for analyzing linear relationships.