Appetizers and Lessons for Mathematics and Reason 
New Visitors: Visit site entrance www.whyslopes.com to see what 1000+ pages offers 

5. Straight Lines
Back ] Section Entrance ] Next ]



Odds & Ends

Group I

1. Hints for Exams
2A. Exact Arithmetic
2B. Fractions Briefly
4.. Square Roots
5. Straight Lines
6. Problem Solving Methods
7. Trig and Complex No.
9. History of No.s
10. ln(x) and exp(x)
13. Rename the > Sign
14. Problems: Quadratics
15. Problems: Algebra Test
16. Problems: Linear Eqns I
17. Problems: Linear Eqns II
18. Problem Solving Hints
20. Independent Variables
21. Why Logic
22. Why Math
23. The 15 Times Table
24.  The  20 Times Table
25. Algebra Formulas
26. On Learning Maths
28. Navigation +Time
29 Quibble-What is Algebra
30. Logic in Maths
31. Real Number Operations
Learn More

Group II 

Constant Retirement Rate
Road Safety
3 Strikes Law in California.
Math HOW-TOs
9 Steps in Maths

Back ] Up ] Next ]

Would you like to show yourself or others how to be  algebra power users

 

More Algebra Hints

Description: This lesson summaries the properties of straight lines, their slope, equations, and the slopes of perpendicular or parallel lines

5. Straight Lines

 slope   m = Dy
Dx
= y2-y1
x2-x1
= rise
run

Two points are usually needed to compute the slope. For a straight line segment, the slope m is a constant of proportionality between Dy = y-y1 and Dx = x-x1. The change Dy in y is proportional to the change in Dx in x.

The point-slope form of  equation for a line y-y1 = m·(x-x1) implies y = y1+m·(x-x1). In the case  [x1, y1] = [0, b] is the y-intercept, equation y = y1+m·(x-x1) becomes the slope intercept form of equation for a line y = b +m·x or y = m·x + b.  In answering questions, rewrite any equation you obtain for a non-vertical line into a slope intercept equation.  After an equation of a line is written or given in form y = m·x + b, the coefficient of x gives m and the constant term b is the y-intercept, that is the value of y when x = 0. 

Graphing: Two points are usually needed to draw a straight line.  Use the x- and y- intercepts if the line does not pass through the origin.  For best results (greatest accuracy) in drawing a line, take two points far apart. One point is enough is the line is horizontal or vertical.  Label the horizontal and vertical axises with their names and coordinates. 

If L has nonzero slope m=m1 and a line K perpendicular to L has slope m2 then -1= m1·m2 . Thus m2 = -1/m1 = negative reciprocal of m1.  When slope m of L is known, it can be used to compute the slope m2  of K without being given two points on the line K.

To find the intersection point of a line y = m1x + b1 and y = m2x + b2 , solve the equation m1x + b = m2x + b2 for x and then compute y. 

_______
   |      |     |   

//  _   _ \\
/\             /\
  <|  (o)   (o)   |> 
 \     | |      / 
\___ _/

||
 -/[]\- 
||
   / \_ 

Professor Whyslopes:

  • Site value lies in the difference between its ideas and yours.  

  • If one site explanation is not to your liking, try another. Each one is different.

Two gaps

  • The Old Algebra Gap:  Algebra  appears with too few words of explanation in high school and college mathematics.  Online Volumes 2 and 3 offer remedies.   Chapters 8 to 12 in Volume 2  put more words into the explanation and comprehension of algebra.  Chapter 14 in Volume 2 with its explicit discussion of the direct and indirect use a formulas identifies a unifying theme for mathematics and logic - all rules and patterns will be used forward and backwards. Chapters 2 to 6 and 12 to 18 in Volume 3 may further ease or avoid the very challenging use of algebra in the high level mathematics: calculus.    Calculus requires earlier high school mathematics at full strength: (i) This logically complete but long lesson on  complex numbers shows how to simplify the senior  high school exposition of circular trig functions upto to formulas in the plane  for vectors dot and cross-products.  The lesson provides the route that would have been taken in course design if the key element of the lesson, a December 2009 invention,  had been available in the 1950s.  For further algebra skill development. See the site coverage of fraction with units, proportionality,  ratios and rates, polynomials, quadratics functions  and straight line slopes and equations.
  • The Arithmetic Gap: An exact and efficient mastery of arithmetic with decimals and fractions is best (required)  for the high level  study of mathematics alone and in science, technology and business.   Pages here on arithmetic with decimals and integers,  on  fractions and solving linear equations with fractional operations on stick diagrams may help fill the gap.  That exact and efficient command should be obtained in the last years of primary school and the first years of secondary school.   

 Skill mastery in mathematics has to be seen to believed.  To that end,  learn or teach how-to write and draw the steps in mathematical figuring or  reasoning  clearly. Do not try to save space by doing a sequence of step in one place. Instead, do or record the steps in sequence on a separate lines to make each step obvious and verifiable.   

 
Schools/Colleges:  Hire the site author, as an online instructor, as technical support for teachers, or advisor for curriculum review.    Site Reviews may serve as references.  See how online whiteboards with  voice and real-time writing make online help possible with board content printable.  Text or written work scanned or saved to a  pdf file may be  uploaded  for discussion in the whiteboard.  

www.whyslopes.com

Parents: Help your Child/Teen Learn

Online Volumes
 
(orders)
1,  Elements of Reason. 1996
1A. Pattern Based Reason  1995
1B. Math Curriculum Notes 1996
2. Three Skills for Algebra  1995
3 .Why.Slopes.&
.More.Math.1995

Math How-TOs etc  2008
1. Arithmetic
2. Algebra 
3. More Algebra 
4. Geometry  
5. More Geometry
6. Calculus

Site Description/Reviews  by 3rd parties

Site  Math Lessons
1. Arithmetic Flash Videos  11-2008
2.  Algebra Videos (to appear)
3. Fractions and More 
4.. 
Solving Linear Equations  04-2005
5. Euclidean-Geometry To Complex No.s 
6.  Analytic Geometry/Functions 2006
7.  Number Theory. 2006-7
8.
  Exponents, Radicals & logs. 2008
9 Calculus  2005
10..Real  Analysis 1995
11 Electric Circuits Etc  2007
12. .Algebra, Odds & Ends, HS level-2001
13.Maps, Plans,  Similarity &Trig, with
Complex   Numbers
, 12-2009. 

For Math Instructors/Tutors/
Curriculum Committees


1. K0-11Applied Math Program Outline  
2. Mathematics education  essays 
3. LAMP - an earlier applied math program.
4.
(150 pages)

www.whyslopes.com/search

Would you like to show yourself or others how to be an  algebra power users?

 Back ] Up ] Next ] [Top of this Page]  
Mathematics Education Consulting and Private (Online) Instruction available

Road Safety Message  Do not walk on a road with your back to the traffic - rule of thumb
Please report by
email,  errors in mathematics or grammar or terminology to site author
If a mathematics topic you need is not covered in site pages,  report that as well. Topics in most demand
will be covered first in site growth.  

All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective owners.
Copyright to comments & contributions are owned by the Poster. 
The Rest © 1995 onward by site author,   Alan Selby,  
Mathematics Consultant/Tutor/Instructor, All Rights Reserved.