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The Gradient of A Line
The Gradient of A Line
6
5 D
4
8:03 3 B (10, 4)
2 A C E
1 (1, 1) (4, 2) (7, 1) (13, 1) (17, 1) G
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 x
• If we move from left to right the line going down is said to have a negative gradient (or slope).
The line going up is said to have a positive gradient (or slope).
• If the line is horizontal (not going up or down) its gradient is zero.
• We find the gradient of a line by comparing its rise (change in y) with its run (change in x).
rise change in y
Gradient = --------- = -----------------------------
run change in x
worked examples
Use the points A and B to find the gradient of the line AB in each case.
1 y 2 y 3 y
6 6 6
B(–1, 5)
5 5 5
4 4 B(4, 3) 4
B(4, 4)
3 3 3
3 6
2 2 2 2
2 A(–1, 1)
1 1 1
A(2, 1) 5
0 1 2 3 4 5 x –1 0 1 2 3 4 5 x 0 1 2 3 4 5 x
–1 –1 –1 3 A(2, –1)
Solutions
change in y change in y ■ m is used
1 Gradient 2 m = ---------------------------- 3 m = ----------------------------
change in x change in x for ‘gradient’
change in y
= ---------------------------- up 2 down 6
change in x = -------------------- = --------------------
across 5 across 3 ■ Gradient is
up 3 generally left as an
= -------------------- 2 6
across 2 = --- = − --- improper fraction
5 3
3 instead of a mixed
= --- = −2 numeral. So we write
2
3 1
--- instead of 1 --- .
2 2
Gradient formula
We wish to find a formula for the gradient of a line AB where A is (x1, y1) and B is (x2, y2).
rise
Gradient of AB = --------
y run
y2 ■ m is used
B(x2, y2) change in y
y2 – y1
= ---------------------------- for ‘gradient’
change in x
y1
A(x1, y1) C(x2, y1) BC
= --------
AC
0 x1 x2 x
x2 – x1
y 2 – y 1 (opposite sides of a
∴ m = ----------------
x 2 – x 1 rectangle are equal)
The gradient of the line that passes through the points A(x1, y1) and B(x2, y2) is
given by the formula: y –y 2 1
m = ----------------
-
x2 – x1
worked examples
Find the gradient of the straight line passing through the following points.
1 (1, 3) and (4, 7) 2 (6, −2) and (2, −1) It doesn't matter
Solutions which point is
1 Let (x1, y1) be (1, 3) 2 Let (x1, y1) be (6, −2) called (x1, y1).
and (x2, y2) be (4, 7). and (x2, y2) be (2, −1).
y2 – y1 y2 – y1
Gradient = ---------------- m = ----------------
x2 – x1 x2 – x1
7–3 –1 – ( – 2 )
= ------------ = -----------------------
4–1 2–6
4 1
= --- = ------
3 –4
∴ The gradient is 1 1--3- . ∴ The gradient is − 1--4- .
a b 4 x 1 x
y y
2 Find the lengths of the missing sides on each
triangle and then find the gradient.
x a y b y
(3, 3)
x
x (–4, –1)
x (2, –3)
(1, 0)
c y d y e y
x x
x
G 3 F
2
1
0 1 2 3 4 5 x
A H
C