Algebra I: Understanding Slope

Objectives

• Students will identify positive and negative slope.
• Students will know that the sign of the ratio of the vertical and horizontal changes determines the sign of the slope.
• Students will recognize that a positive slope indicates a line is rising from left to right and a negative slope indicates a line is falling from left to right.

Vocabulary

• Slope

About the Lesson

This lesson is designed to help students see the connections between the sign of the ratio of the vertical and horizontal change as they relate to the sign of the slope. As a result, students will:

• Move the points around the plane and observe how the line moves and the relationships between the signs of the vertical and horizontal changes.