>An effective math teacher will point out that “rise over run” isn’t the definition of slope at all but merely a way to calculate it. In fact, slope is a rate t

>An effective math teacher will point out that “rise over run” isn’t the definition of slope at all but merely a way to calculate it. In fact, slope is a rate that describes how two variables change in relation to one another: What a dumb thing to argue about. I'm not a historian (or a mathematician), but the term "slope" seems pretty obviously adopted from a physical slope/incline/hill. Why? Because it's the easiest visual analogy for us apes to grok. It doesn't come from an earlier term meaning strictly "a rate that describes how two variables change in relation to one another." If you're trying to teach someone a complex concept, are you going to use a phrasing that has zero significance to them? Rate? Variable? What? The people learning about slope aren't programmers or engineers. Give me a break. Why not use a visual analogy that makes perfect sense and is still a valid definition: rise over run on a section of a hill, road, roller coaster, etc. I hope whoever is teaching this is relating it to a real world object. Just talking about a line on paper isn't going to help much, but neither is an overly complex definition.