What should the student get out of this module?

After completing this module, a student should be able to:

• Understand the meaning of slope in terms of direction and steepness.
• Be able to differentiate between positive slope and negative slope.
• Be able to calculate the slope of a line between two points using the "rise-over-run" formula.
• Be able to calculate the slope of a curve between two points or at a single point.
• Recognize economic principles and laws that employ slope calculations.

What we don't include on this page

This module does not connect the idea of slope at a point with derivatives.

Why is it difficult for students?

Understanding the concept of slope should be relatively straightforward for students as it applies to linear functions. Slope of curves, especially the idea of slope at a point, can be difficult for students because applying the "rise-over-run" concept requires the additional work of finding a tangent line.

Instructor Resources

• SERC Starting Point: Teaching and Learning Economics website
• Khan Academy Link: Slope-of-a-line - Khan Academy provides short videos illustrating a variety of mathematical concepts, including slope.