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Slope illustrated for y = (3/2)x − 1.Click on to enlarge Slope of a line in coordinates system, from f(x) = −12x + 2 to f(x) = 12x + 2. The slope of a line in the plane containing the x and y axes is generally represented by the letter m, [5] and is defined as the change in the y coordinate divided by the corresponding change in the x coordinate, between two distinct points on the line.
The mean value theorem proves that this must be true: The slope between any two points on the graph of f must equal the slope of one of the tangent lines of f. All of those slopes are zero, so any line from one point on the graph to another point will also have slope zero.
A non-vertical line can be defined by its slope m, and its y-intercept y 0 (the y coordinate of its intersection with the y-axis). In this case, its linear equation can be written = +. If, moreover, the line is not horizontal, it can be defined by its slope and its x-intercept x 0. In this case, its equation can be written
A linear function () = + has a constant rate of change equal to its slope a, so its derivative is the constant function ′ =. The fundamental idea of differential calculus is that any smooth function f ( x ) {\displaystyle f(x)} (not necessarily linear) can be closely approximated near a given point x = c {\displaystyle x=c} by a unique linear ...
Slope may still be expressed when the horizontal run is not known: the rise can be divided by the hypotenuse (the slope length). This is not the usual way to specify slope; this nonstandard expression follows the sine function rather than the tangent function, so it calls a 45 degree slope a 71 percent grade instead of a 100 percent.
It can be expressed by numerous definitions, for example "0 for negative inputs, output equals input for non-negative inputs". The term "ramp" can also be used for other functions obtained by scaling and shifting , and the function in this article is the unit ramp function (slope 1, starting at 0).
A constant function is also considered linear in this context, as it is a polynomial of degree zero or is the zero polynomial. Its graph, when there is only one variable, is a horizontal line. In this context, a function that is also a linear map (the other meaning) may be referred to as a homogeneous linear function or a linear form.
In particular, division by zero is meaningful. The real numbers can be extended to a wheel, as can any commutative ring. The term wheel is inspired by the topological picture of the real projective line together with an extra point ⊥ (bottom element) such that = /. [1] [2]