2. Gradients of straight-line graphs
•The gradient of a line is a measure of how steep the line is.
•The gradient of a line can be positive, negative or zero if, moving from left to
right, we have
an upwards slope a horizontal line a downwards slope
y y y
x x x
Positive gradient Zero gradient Negative gradient
•If a line is vertical its gradient cannot by specified.
3. Finding the gradient
y
Formula:
change in y
The gradient =
change in x
y2 – y1
y2 – y1
the gradient =
x2 – x1
x2 – x1
x
0
4. What is gradient of this graph?
Formula:
(1,4) change in y
The gradient =
change in x
Calculation:
m=(-1-4)
(-4-1)
= -5
(-4,-1) (1,-1) -5
=1
Total: 3/3 marks
5. Find the gradient of this gradient.
s Formula:
change in y
The gradient =
change in x
m = 7-2
10-0
= 1
2
-1
= 0.5cms
cm
Total: 3/3 marks