Calculus and Analytical Geometry Week # 3

THE SLOPE OF A LINE

The slope of a nonvertical line is a measure of the number of units the line rises (or falls)
vertically for each unit of horizontal change from left to right. Consider the two points
through (𝑥 , 𝑦 ) and (𝑥 , 𝑦 ) on the line in Figure. As you move from left to right along
this line, a vertical change of

∆𝑦 = 𝑦 − 𝑦

units corresponds to a horizontal change of

∆𝑥 = 𝑥 − 𝑥 .

DEFINITION: The slope 𝑚 of the nonvertical line passing through (𝑥 , 𝑦 ) and (𝑥 , 𝑦 )

is

∆𝑦 𝑦 −𝑦
𝑚 = = ,𝑥 ≠ 𝑥 .
∆𝑥 𝑥 −𝑥

Slope is not defined for vertical lines.

NOTE: There are four types of slopes, one has a positive slope, one has a slope of zero,
one has a negative slope, and one has an “undefined” slope. In general, the greater the
absolute value of the slope of a line, the steeper the line.
Calculus and Analytical Geometry Week # 3

EQUATIONS OF LINES

If (𝑥 , 𝑦 ) is a point on a nonvertical line that has a slope of 𝑚 and (𝑥, 𝑦) is any other
point on the line, then

= 𝑚.

This equation in the variables 𝑥 and 𝑦 can be rewritten in the form

𝑦 − 𝑦 = 𝑚(𝑥 − 𝑥 ),

which is the point-slope form of the equation of a line.

EXAMPLE: Find an equation of the line that has a slope of 3 and passes through the
point (1, −2). Then sketch the line.

SOLUTION: As we know that the equation of the line is

𝑦 − 𝑦 = 𝑚(𝑥 − 𝑥 ).

Put the point and the slope in above equation, we get

𝑦 − (−2) = 3(𝑥 − 1),

𝑦 + 2 = 3(𝑥 − 1),

𝑦 + 2 = 3𝑥 − 3,

𝑦 = 3𝑥 − 5.

EXAMPLE: The maximum recommended slope of a wheelchair ramp is . A business

installs a wheelchair ramp that rises to a height of 22 inches over a length of 24 feet, as
shown in Figure. Is the ramp steeper than recommend?
Calculus and Analytical Geometry Week # 3

SOLUTION: The length of the ramp is 24 feet or 12(24) = 288 inches. The slope of
the ramp is the ratio of its height (the rise) to its length (the run).

Slope of ramp = ,

Slope of ramp = ,

Slope of ramp ≈ 0.076.

Because the slope of the ramp is less than ≈ 0.083, the ramp is not steeper than

recommended. Note that the slope is a ratio and has no units.

THE SLOPE-INTERCEPT FORM OF THE EQUATION OF A LINE

The graph of the linear equation

𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏,

is a line whose slope is 𝑚 and whose 𝑦-intercept is (0, 𝑏).

PARALLEL AND PERPENDICULAR LINES

 Two distinct nonvertical lines are parallel if and only if their slopes are equal—
that is, if and only if
𝑚 = 𝑚 .
 Two nonvertical lines are perpendicular if and only if their slopes are negative
reciprocals of each other—that is, if and only if
1
𝑚 =− .
𝑚
Calculus and Analytical Geometry Week # 3

EXAMPLE: Find the general forms of the equations of the lines that pass through the
point (2, −1) and are

1. parallel to and
2. perpendicular

to the line 2𝑥 − 3𝑦 = 5.

SOLUTION: Begin by writing the linear equation 2𝑥 − 3𝑦 = 5 in slope-intercept form.

2 5
𝑦= 𝑥− .
3 3

So, the given line has a slope of 𝑚 = .

1. The line through (2, −1) that is parallel to the given line also has a slope of . As

we know that the point-slope form is

𝑦 − 𝑦 = 𝑚 (𝑥 − 𝑥 ) ,

2
𝑦 − (−1) = (𝑥 − 2),
3

after some simplifications, we get

2𝑥 − 3𝑦 − 7 = 0.

2. Using the negative reciprocal of the slope of the given line, you can determine
that the slope of a line perpendicular to the given line is − . As we know that the

point-slope form is
𝑦 − 𝑦 = 𝑚(𝑥 − 𝑥 ),
3
𝑦 − (−1) = − (𝑥 − 2),
2
after some simplifications, we get
3𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 4 = 0.

DEFINITION OF COMPOSITE FUNCTION

Let 𝑓 and 𝑔 be functions. The function (𝑓 ∘ 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥)) is the composite of 𝑓 with
𝑔. The domain of 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔 is the set of all 𝑥 in the domain of 𝑔 such that 𝑔(𝑥) is in the
domain of 𝑓.
Calculus and Analytical Geometry Week # 3

EXAMPLE: For 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 − 3 and 𝑔(𝑥 ) = 𝑥 + 1. Find each composite function.

a. 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔
b. 𝑔 ∘ 𝑓

Solution:

a. (𝑓 ∘ 𝑔)(𝑥)
= 𝑓 𝑔(𝑥)
= 𝑓(𝑥 + 1)
= 2(𝑥 + 1) − 3
= 2𝑥 − 1
b. (𝑔 ∘ 𝑓)(𝑥)
= 𝑔 𝑓(𝑥)
= 𝑔(2𝑥 − 3)
= (2𝑥 − 3) + 1
= 4𝑥 – 12𝑥 + 10

Note that (𝑓 ∘ 𝑔)(𝑥) ≠ (𝑔 ∘ 𝑓)(𝑥).

TEST FOR EVEN AND ODD FUNCTIONS

 The function 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) is even when 𝑓 (−𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥).

 The function 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) is odd when 𝑓 (−𝑥) = −𝑓(𝑥).

EXAMPLE: Determine whether each function is even, odd, or neither.

a. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 𝑥

b. 𝑔(𝑥 ) =

c. ℎ(𝑥) = −𝑥 − 𝑥 − 1

Solution:

a. This function is odd because 𝑓 (−𝑥) = (−𝑥 ) − (−𝑥 ) = −𝑥 + 𝑥 =

−(𝑥 − 𝑥) = −𝑓(𝑥).
b. This function is even because 𝑔(−𝑥) = ( )
=( )
= 𝑔(𝑥).

c. Substituting −𝑥 for 𝑥 produces ℎ(−𝑥) = −(−𝑥) − (−𝑥) − 1 = −𝑥 + 𝑥 −

1. Because ℎ(𝑥) = −𝑥 − 𝑥 − 1 and −ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 𝑥 + 1, you can
conclude that ℎ(−𝑥) ≠ ℎ(𝑥) Function is not even. and ℎ(−𝑥) ≠ −ℎ(𝑥).
Function is not odd. So, the function is neither even nor odd.