Math problem

[Hulk]

One of my friends told me the slope of the following points is 1.

(2, absolute value(k))

(4, k)

Looks to me like the slope is 0 for positive values of k and -k for positive values of k.

What am I missing?

 

[henryay]

(y2-y1)=m(x2-x1)
(k-abs(k))=m(4-2)
m=(k-abs(k))/2

Sounds like you are right.

 

[Howard]

Slope AT the points?

 

[hypn0tik]

That sounds about right. For absolute value problems, you should always break it up into two cases.

Here,

Case 1: k >= 0 --> abs(k) = k
You are left with evaluating the slope between the points (2, k) and (4, k) -> m= 0

Case 2: k < 0 --> abs(k) = -k
You are left with evaluating the slope between the points (2, -k) and (4, k) -> m = +k.