Gradient & Slope - done

Question 1

What is the gradient

Answer 1

• Tells you direction and steepness of a line
• If the gradient is positive, then the line will be going up
• If the gradient is negative, then the line will be going don

Question 2

What are the steps to find gradient/slope

Answer 2

1. Pick two points on the line where coordinates are evident
2. Label Point two (x2,y2) as the farthest right point and the closer point to zero as (x1,y1)
3. Use the formula (y2-y1)/(x2-x1) to calculate gradient
4. Simplify gradient
   Or, if there is a graph, count rise over run

Question 3

What are the special case slopes

Answer 3

For a horizontal line, the vertical step is 0, so the gradient is 0 (if you write undefined, its wrong)
For a vertical line, the horizontal step is 0, so the gradient is undefined

Question 4

How do you use the equation of a line

Answer 4

Either create a table of values:
1. Create table to find y value based on x
2. Create points using those values
3. Plot the points on the graph
OR, the shortcut way,
1. Identify and plot the y-intercept
2. Use gradient to plot further points

Question 5

Steps to calculate equation of a line

Answer 5

1. Calculate gradient/slope between two points
2. Substitue the gradient/slope into the gradient intercept form, y = mx+c
3. Substitute one of the points given into the equation
4. Use algebra to calculate the y - intercept
5. Write the equation of a line in slope intercept form