Examine the rise in gasoline prices from 1997 to 2006. The price of regular unleaded gasoline in January 1997 was $1.26 and in January 2006 the price of regular unleaded gasoline was $2.31 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2006). Use the coordinates (1997, 1.26) and (2006, 2.31) to find the slope (or rate of change) between the two points.

slope=change in price/time