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Silly Slope question

Problem Solving — algebra and arithmetic (GMAT Focus Edition)
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Silly Slope question

by gmatusa2010 » Mon Nov 29, 2010 3:45 am
Line X has a slope of 1, line Y has a slope of -5. Which slope is larger?

From my understanding what slope means. I choose Y. However, this is wrong. I can think of in so many discipline that requires the knowledge of slope, Y is always the greater slope. What's the GMAT answer?
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by gmatusa2010 » Mon Nov 29, 2010 8:19 pm
anyone know?? THis came up on tww problems on a fairly mainstream prep test. I'm sure many have seen it.
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by arora007 » Sun Jan 16, 2011 12:47 am
y =mx +c where m is the slope

obviously 1 > -5 so the line X has a larger slope!!
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by yellowho » Fri Jan 21, 2011 8:52 pm
Actually its not obvious. Slope is the rate of change of the rise over the run. If you go up at hill that's 5 degree and down a hill that's 30 degree, you cannot possibly say the slope going up is higher. Regarding GMAT, can experts chime in on the correct interpretation?

[quote="arora007"]y =mx +c where m is the slope

obviously 1 > -5 so the line X has a larger slope!![/quote]
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by hurleycr » Tue Jan 25, 2011 5:31 am
Wouldn't this depend on your interpretation of larger? If you mean more steep than the other then -5 will be. The interpretation of rise over run. Its simple really. Using only -5x and 1x as slope. Then f(2)=-5(2), and f(2)=1(2), it is apparent that the slope of -5 will produce the highest output. Wheter there is constraints of non negative and so forth would need to be known of course.
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