Editing Slope (section)

=== Examples ===
Suppose a line runs through two points: ''P''&nbsp;=&nbsp;(1,&nbsp;2) and ''Q''&nbsp;=&nbsp;(13,&nbsp;8). By dividing the difference in <math>y</math>-coordinates by the difference in <math>x</math>-coordinates, one can obtain the slope of the line:
:<math>m = \frac{\Delta y}{\Delta x} = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1} = \frac{(8 - 2)}{(13 - 1)} = \frac{6}{12} = \frac{1}{2}.</math>
:Since the slope is positive, the direction of the line is increasing. Since |''m''| < 1, the incline is not very steep (incline <&thinsp;45°).

As another example, consider a line which runs through the points (4,&nbsp;15) and (3,&nbsp;21). Then, the slope of the line is 
:<math>m = \frac{ 21 - 15}{3 - 4} = \frac{6}{-1} = -6.</math>
:Since the slope is negative, the direction of the line is decreasing. Since |''m''| > 1, this decline is fairly steep (decline >&thinsp;45°).