PERT Practice Test 2025 – Comprehensive Study Guide for Postsecondary Education Readiness Success!

The slope of a line is the mathematical concept used to describe its steepness. It signifies how much the value of the dependent variable (typically represented on the y-axis) changes with a change in the independent variable (typically on the x-axis). In a graphical representation, the slope is calculated as the rise over the run, giving it a clear interpretation in terms of angles: a larger slope indicates a steeper line, while a smaller slope indicates a less steep line.

The slope can be expressed as a ratio, which makes it easier to convey the steepness of the line directly. For example, if the slope of the line is 2, this means that for every one unit you move to the right on the x-axis, the line rises two units on the y-axis, illustrating a relatively steep incline.

Other options refer to related concepts but do not specifically answer the question of steepness. The y-intercept indicates where the line crosses the y-axis, the gradient can be synonymous with slope in some contexts, but it is often used in different branches of mathematics, and a linear function describes the overall form of a straight line rather than its steepness specifically. Thus, the slope is the most accurate term for describing the steepness of a