Which expression correctly defines the slope of a line?

Which expression correctly defines the slope of a line?

• A. Run/rise
• B. Rise/run
• C. Change in y over change in x
• D. Distance over Time

Answer: (B)

Slope measures how steep a line by comparing vertical change to horizontal change. It's the ratio of how much y changes to how much x changes, i.e., rise over run. The expression rise/run captures this directly, telling you the vertical change per unit of horizontal movement. The phrase change in y over change in x is mathematically equivalent, but rise over run is the standard, more direct way to describe slope. The other options—run/rise would invert the ratio, and distance over time describes speed, not slope.

Slope measures how steep a line by comparing vertical change to horizontal change. It's the ratio of how much y changes to how much x changes, i.e., rise over run. The expression rise/run captures this directly, telling you the vertical change per unit of horizontal movement. The phrase change in y over change in x is mathematically equivalent, but rise over run is the standard, more direct way to describe slope. The other options—run/rise would invert the ratio, and distance over time describes speed, not slope.