Skip to content
← All questions

What is the slope of the characteristic lines for the direction vector (5,2)?

The slope of the characteristic lines is 2/52/5. This is derived from the direction vector (5,2), where the change in y is 2 and the change in x is 5, so dy/dx=2/5dy/dx = 2/5.

Conditions

  • The direction vector is (5,2).
  • The characteristic lines are straight lines in the xy-plane.

Reasoning, step by step

  1. Identify the direction vector (5,2).
  2. Interpret the components as changes in coordinates: Δx=5Δx = 5, Δy=2Δy = 2.
  3. Calculate the slope as rise over run: dy/dx=Δy/Δx=2/5dy/dx = Δy/Δx = 2/5.

Example

The speaker says the gradient dy by dx is the change in y over the change in x and equals two over five. The board writes dy/dx=2/5dy/dx = 2/5. A green right triangle on the contour plot is annotated with 5 horizontally and 2 vertically.

Common misconceptions

  • Inverting the slope to 5/25/2.
  • Confusing the direction vector components with the slope directly without division.

Watch the explanation

Connected concepts

Explore next

Related questions

Meet the concept

↗
Understand why

↗
Meet the concept

↗
Understand why

↗
Find a method

↗

Answers are generated from source material and independently checked. Consult the original video or creator if something is unclear.