I did the work and came out with a slope of m= -12 over 0. I'm not sure how to write it. Leave it as that, or reduce? And if I reduce would I leave it as zero?
2007-01-16 05:42:49 · 10 answers · asked by ♥Tex 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
slope formula
m = y₂- y₁/ x₂ - x₁
Ordered pairs
(3, 7)(3, -5)
m = - 5 - 7 / 3 - 3
m = - 12 /0
This problem is undefined
- - - - - - - -s-
2007-01-16 06:05:21 · answer #1 · answered by SAMUEL D 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you get -12 over 0. But you can't have 0 in the denominator and you can't do anything about it. It means the slope is undefined so you just write what you have and give the answer: undefined slope.
'Undefined slope' is very different from 'no slope'; it is possible to have 3 on the bottom and 0 on the top (0/3). That would be a horizontal line. It would have no slope. Think of what the numbers on the bottom mean: the top number is 'rise' over the bottom number which is 'run' which means vertical change over horizontal change. A horizontal line has no slope but it is horizontal through y=3.
2007-01-16 13:49:50 · answer #2 · answered by kathyw 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Cannot Divide by Zero.
This is a straight vertical line. It has no slope by definition.
Of course if you want to be a smart aleck you could say that the slope is infinity. But the better answer is the slope of the line is undefined.
2007-01-16 13:48:25 · answer #3 · answered by Shorty 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
(-5-7)/(3/3) -12/0,
slope is undefined because you have a zero on the bottom
x=3 is the equation.
2007-01-16 13:50:13 · answer #4 · answered by 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The slope is officially undefined.
If you have knowledge of basic calculus, specifically limits, you can state that the slope approaches infinity as dx approaches zero.
2007-01-16 15:54:55 · answer #5 · answered by Brian K² 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
-5-7/3-3=-12/0 therefore slope does not exist, because the line is completely horizontal
2007-01-16 13:50:33 · answer #6 · answered by Zidane 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The line is vertical. Its slope dy/dx is infinite
2007-01-16 13:51:27 · answer #7 · answered by Always Hopeful 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
there is no slope. It is undefined and is written as x = 3.
2007-01-16 13:50:52 · answer #8 · answered by thenextchamp919 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You can not divide by zero.
It's a heated math discussion.
Try it on any calculator.
I would write 'undefined'
Most math textbooks don't give these kinds of problems...
2007-01-16 13:47:05 · answer #9 · answered by ♥ 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think all that can be said of the line is that it is vertical.
2007-01-16 13:50:06 · answer #10 · answered by jeremycharles7 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋