What does y = mx + b mean?

This is slope-intercept form where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept (where the line crosses the y-axis). For example, y = 2x + 3 has slope 2 (rises 2 for every 1 right) and crosses the y-axis at (0, 3).

How do I find slope from a graph?

Pick any two points on the line. Count the vertical distance between them (rise) and horizontal distance (run). Slope = rise / run. If the line goes down from left to right, the slope is negative.

Can a vertical line have a slope?

No. A vertical line has an undefined slope because the horizontal change (run) is zero, causing division by zero. The equation of a vertical line is written as x = c (a constant).

What is the relationship between slope and angle?

The angle a line makes with the horizontal axis equals arctan(slope). A 45° line has slope 1. A 0° line has slope 0. As slope approaches infinity, the angle approaches 90° (vertical).

general

Slope Calculator

Calculate slope, line equation (y = mx + b), distance, midpoint, and angle between any two points on a coordinate plane.

Last updated: March 31, 2026

Enter two points (x₁, y₁) and (x₂, y₂) to find the slope, equation, distance, and midpoint.

Point 1

x₁

y₁

Point 2

x₂

y₂

How to Use This Calculator

Enter the coordinates of Point 1 (x₁, y₁).
Enter the coordinates of Point 2 (x₂, y₂).
Click Calculate to see slope, equation, distance, midpoint, and angle.

The Formula

Slope: m = (y₂ - y₁) / (x₂ - x₁). Y-intercept: b = y₁ - m × x₁. Distance: √((x₂-x₁)² + (y₂-y₁)²). Midpoint: ((x₁+x₂)/2, (y₁+y₂)/2). Angle: atan(m) × 180/π.

Frequently Asked Questions

Slope measures the steepness of a line. It is the ratio of vertical change (rise) to horizontal change (run) between any two points. A positive slope goes up-right, negative goes down-right, zero is horizontal, and undefined is vertical.