GRADIENTS AND STRAIGHT LINE

GRAPHS

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 The gradient of a straight line is a measure of how steep the line is.

vertical distance
vertical distance gradient =
horizontal distance

horizontal distance

These lines have negative gradient. These lines have positive gradient.

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1 Find the gradient of the line.

Gradient = 5
5 4

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2 Find the gradient of the line.

Gradient = 3 = 1
6 2
3

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3 Find the gradient of the line.

Gradient = 5 =1
5 5

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4 Find the gradient of the line.

Gradient = − 6 = − 3
2
6

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5 Find the gradient of the line.

Gradient = − 4 = − 2
4 6 3

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6 Find the gradient of the line joining the points (−2, 1) and (4, 5).
y

Gradient = 4 = 2
4 6 3

6
x

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7 Find the gradient of the line joining the points (−1, 3) and (2, −3).
y

Gradient = − 6 = −2
x 3
6

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The gradient of a line passing through two points can also be
calculated using a formula.

If the points are (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) then the gradient (m) is
given by y  y1
m 2
x2  x1

Examples

1 Find the gradient of the line joining the points (2, 1) and (8, 7).

(x1, y1) (x2 , y 2 )

y 2  y1 7 1 6
Gradient = m    1
x2  x1 82 6

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2 Find the gradient of the line joining the points (−2, 1) and (4, 5).

(x1, y1) (x2 , y 2 )

y 2  y1 5 1 4 2
Gradient = m    
x2  x1 4  2 6 3

3 Find the gradient of the line joining the points (−1, 3) and (2, −3).

(x1, y1) (x2 , y 2 )

y 2  y1 3  3 6
Gradient = m     2
x2  x1 2  1 3

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Straight line graphs of the form y = ax + b

1 Draw the graph of y = 2x + 1.

y
Choose 3 values of x and work
out the corresponding y values. x
4 y = 2x + 1
When x = 0, y = 2 × 0 + 1 = 1 x
When x = 1, y = 2 × 1 + 1 = 3 2
x
When x = 2, y = 2 × 2 + 1 = 5
x
-4 -2 2 4
Put the results into a table.
-2
x 0 1 2
y 1 3 5 -4

Plot the points on a graph and

join with a straight line.

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2 Draw the graph of y  2  31 x.

y  2  31 x 4
When x = 3, y = 2 - ⅓ × 3 = 1 x
When x = 0, y = 2 - ⅓ × 0 = 2 2x

When x = −3, y = 2 - ⅓ × -3 = 3 x
x
-4 -2 2 4

-2
x −3 0 3
y 3 2 1 -4

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Straight line graphs of the form ax + by = c

1 Draw the graph of 3x + 4y = 12.

y
The easiest method is to find the
axis crossing points. 4
x
When x = 0, 4y = 12 so y = 3. 3x + 4y = 12
2
When y = 0, 3x = 12 so x = 4.
x x
-4 -2 2 4
Put the results into a table.
-2
x 0 4
y 3 0 -4

Plot the points on a graph and

join with a straight line.

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2 Draw the graph of 2x - 3y = 6.

y
The easiest method is to find the
axis crossing points. 4

When x = 0, −3y = 6 so y = −2.

2
When y = 0, 2x = 6 so x = 3.
x x
-4 -2 2 4
Put the results into a table.
-2x
x 0 3 2x - 3y = 6
y −2 0 -4

Plot the points on a graph and

join with a straight line.

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