How to Find the Slope of a Line
Slope measures a line’s steepness: how many units y changes for each unit x changes. A slope of 2 means “up 2, right 1”; a slope of −1/2 means “down 1, right 2”.
From Two Points
Subtract the y-values (rise), subtract the x-values (run), then divide. Keep the point order consistent — (y₂ − y₁)/(x₂ − x₁) gives the same answer whichever point you call “first”.
From an Equation
In y = mx + b the slope is staring at you: it is m. Parallel lines share the same slope; perpendicular lines have slopes that multiply to −1 (negative reciprocals).
Once you have the slope, solve for intercepts with our equation solver or simplify line expressions with the algebra calculator.