How Do You Simplify Your Slope

••• damircudic/E+/GettyImages

Slope is often described as "rise over run." It indicates the vertical change of a line over a horizontal distance. If you set the rise over the run, you get a fraction that describes the slope. Sometimes this fraction can be further simplified by dividing the numerator and the denominator by their greatest common factor. This is the highest number that will divide evenly into both terms.

    Determine the greatest common factor of both numbers in the fraction. If you are unsure what this is, write down the factors of both numbers and select the highest one that they have in common.

    Divide the numerator by this number. If the result is zero, the simplified slope of the line is also zero.

    Divide the denominator by the greatest common factor. If the result is one, drop the denominator and express the numerator as a whole number.

Related Articles

How to Divide Rational Numbers
How to Convert Angle Degrees to Slope
How to Turn a Negative Denominator into a Positive
How to Find The Slope of a Line Given Two Points
How to Convert a Fraction to a Ratio
How to Find a Fraction of a Number
How to Calculate Slope Ratio
How to Add & Subtract Improper Fractions
How to Multiply Fractions by Percentages
Adding & Subtracting Fractions
How to Find a Percent of a Fraction
How to Find the X Intercept of a Function
How to Write an Equivalent Fraction With a Given Denominator
How to Multiply 3 Fractions
How to Find the Angle of a Curve
Multiplying Fractions
How to Subtract Mixed Numbers With Regrouping
How to Get the Fraction Equivalent of a Whole Number
How to Work Out a Gradient of a Curve
How to Convert Percent to Fraction

Dont Go!

We Have More Great Sciencing Articles!