A slope is a measure of how steep a line is on a graph. It is calculated by taking the change in vertical distance (rise) and dividing it by the change in horizontal distance (run). This ratio helps to understand how quickly something increases or decreases. For example, a slope of 2 means that for every 1 unit you move horizontally, you move 2 units vertically. In real life, slopes can be seen in various places, such as hills, roads, and roofs. The steepness of a slope can affect how easy or difficult it is to walk, drive, or build. Understanding slopes is important in fields like engineering, architecture, and mathematics.