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Here we will learn about the gradient of a line, including how to find the gradient of a line from a graph, and from two coordinates, and state the equations of horizontal and vertical lines.
There are also worksheets based on Edexcel, AQA and OCR exam questions, along with further guidance on where to go next if youβre still stuck.
The gradient of a line is the measure of the steepness of a straight line.
The gradient of a line can be either positive or negative and does not need to be a whole number.
The gradient of a line can either be in an uphill (positive value) or downhill direction (negative value).
The gradient formula of a straight line shows us how steep the line is. In the general equation of a straight line,
To calculate the gradient of a straight line through two coordinates (
Imagine walking up a set of stairs. Each step has the same height and you can only take one step forward each time you move. If the steps are taller, you will reach the top of the stairs quicker, if each step is shorter, you will reach the top of the stairs more slowly.
Letβs look at sets of stairs,
The blue steps are taller than the red steps and so the gradient is steeper (notice the blue arrow is steeper than the red arrow).
The green steps are not as tall as the red steps so the gradient is shallower (the green arrow is shallower than the red arrow).
Gradients can be positive or negative but are always observed from left to right.
The linear relationship between two variables can be drawn as a straight line graph and the gradient of the line calculates the rate of change between the two variables.
Currency gradient example
When calculating the exchange rate of two currencies, we can calculate the gradient of the line to find the rate of change between them.
Here, the exchange rate between pounds ( Β£ ) and dollars ($) is equal to \frac{3}{5}
The gradient formula is a way of expressing the change in height using the
So using the gradient formula to find the gradient of a straight line given the two coordinates (
This gives us a gradient formula of:
It can be helpful to think about this formula as:
βChange in
Or
βRise over runβ
The gradient equation is another way we refer to the gradient of a straight line using
To find the gradient of line you divide the change in height (
For example on a straight line with points
Letβs have a closer look at the gradient of
How far apart do the coordinates we choose need to be?
Let’s look at the example of
No matter how far apart the coordinates are on the line, the resultant value will always simplify to the same number, here
Top tip: Use two coordinates that cross the corner of two grid squares so that you can accurately measure the horizontal and vertical distance between them. Use integers as much as possible!
Remember: the change in
There is no relationship between
Let us look at a couple of examples to further understand the equations of horizontal and vertical lines.
Example 1
In the diagram above, all the coordinates share an
Notice the line crosses the
Example 2
In the diagram above, all the coordinates share a
Notice the line crosses the
In order to calculate the gradient of a line:
Get your free gradient of a line worksheet of 20+ questions and answers. Includes reasoning and applied questions.
DOWNLOAD FREEGet your free gradient of a line worksheet of 20+ questions and answers. Includes reasoning and applied questions.
DOWNLOAD FREEGradient of a lineΒ is part of our series of lessons to support revision onΒ straight line graphs. You may find it helpful to start with the mainΒ straight line graphsΒ lesson for a summary of what to expect, or use the step by step guides below for further detail on individual topics. Other lessons in this series include:
We can estimate the gradient of a curve at a given point by drawing a tangent line at that point and calculating its gradient.
A tangent line touches the curve at one point only. For the purposes of GCSE Maths, the tangent line is an estimate drawn by eye, but you should try to be as accurate as possible.
Once the tangent line has been drawn in, use the method described above to calculate the gradient of the tangent line. This gives an approximation or estimate for the gradient of the curve at that point.
For example,
In the example above, the red curve is the equation y=x^{2} and the blue tangent line has been drawn to estimate the tangent at the point (2, 4).
Using the points (3, 8) and (2, 4) which both lie on the tangent line, we calculate \frac{\text { change in } y}{\text { change in } x}=\frac{4}{1}=4. Hence the gradient at the point (2, 4) is 4.
Calculate the gradient of the line:
2Sketch a right angle triangle and calculate the change in y and the change in x.
3Divide the change in y by the change in x to find m.
Here,
so
Calculate the gradient of the line:
Select two points on the line that occur on the corners of two grid squares.
Sketch a right angle triangle and calculate the change in y and the change in x.
Remember the height of the triangle represents the change in
Looking at the coordinate (
Although the height of a triangle is always positive, we are calculating the change in
Divide the change in y by the change in x to find m.
Here,
so
Calculate the gradient of the line:
Select two points on the line that occur on the corners of two grid squares.
Here we already have this information, so we can continue on with step
Sketch a right angle triangle and calculate the change in y and the change in x.
Divide the change in y by the change in x to find m.
Here,
so
Calculate the gradient of the line:
Select two points on the line that occur on the corners of two grid squares.
Here we already have this information, so we can continue on with step
Sketch a right angle triangle and calculate the change in y and the change in x.
Here we have to be careful because each grid square has a width of
Divide the change in y by the change in x to find m.
Here,
so
Calculate the gradient of the line with coordinates
Select two points on the line that occur on the corners of two grid squares.
Here we have the two coordinates
Sketch a right angle triangle and calculate the change in y and the change in x.
As there is no right angle to sketch, we will solve algebraically by calculating the change in
Top tip: make sure you always subtract one coordinate from the other. Here we subtracted the values from coordinate
Divide the change in y by the change in x to find m.
Calculate the gradient of the line with coordinates
Select two points on the line that occur on the corners of two grid squares.
Here we have the two coordinates
Sketch a right angle triangle and calculate the change in y and the change in x.
As there is no right angle to sketch, we will solve algebraically by calculating the change in
Divide the change in y by the change in x to find m.
A common error is to mix up the coordinates when calculating the change in
It is helpful to label each coordinate (
The change in
The change in
When you subtract one coordinate from another, one or both of the numerator and the denominator can be negative. If one is negative, the gradient is negative.
If both are negative, remember a negative number divided by another negative number is a positive number, so the gradient is positive.
E.g.
It is easy to mistake the calculation of
Sometimes the scale of the axis can change, e.g.
1. Calculate the gradient of the line:
\\m=\frac{2}{5}\\
2. Calculate the gradient of the line:
\\m=\frac{-9}{14}\\
3. Calculate the gradient of the line given the coordinates:
\\m=\frac{8}{6}=\frac{4}{3}\\
(each square on the x-axis is 2 units)
4. Calculate the gradient of the line given the coordinates:
\\m=\frac{-3}{6}\\
(each square on the x-axis is \frac{1}{2} unit)
5. Calculate the gradient of the line given the coordinates A(2,6) and B(8,24)
6. Calculate the gradient of the line given the coordinates A(-3,-8)) and B(-5,10)
1.Β Two straight line graphs A and B are shown on a set of axes. The equation of line A is y=2(x+1).
Use this information to calculate the gradient of the line B.
(4 marks)
The y -intercept of line A = 2 or (0,2) labelled
(1)
Each square on the x-axis is 1 unit, on the y -axis is 2 units:
(1)
Two coordinates selected on line B with correct change in y and change in x , e.g:
Β The change in y is -8 , and the change in x is 4
(1)
\\m=\frac{y_{2}-y_{1}}{x_{2}-x_{1}}=\frac{-8}{4}=-2\\
(1)
2.Β (a)Β Write an equation in the form y=mx+c that has the same gradient as the lineΒ 3y+9=12x.
(b)Β Tick the statements that are true for the equation 3y+9=12x and your solution for part a).
They are parallel
They intersect at the coordinate (0,-3)
They are perpendicular to one another
(4 marks)
(a)
(1)
m=4
(1)
Any equation of the form y=4x+c
E.g.
y=4x, y=4x+7, y=4x-8.
(1)
(b)
They are parallelΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β β
They intersect at the coordinate (0,-3)
They are perpendicular to one another
(1)
3.Β Craig is calculating the gradient of the straight line shown below.
Here is Craigβs working:
Is Craig correct? Explain your answer.
(3 marks)
No (with reasoning)
(1)
The change in x is equal to:
-6–2=-6+2=-4
whereas Craig has stated the height of the triangle as 4
(1)
The gradient
\\m=\frac{y_{2}-y_{1}}{x_{2}-x_{1}}=\frac{-4}{8}=-\frac{1}{2}\\Β
whereas Craig has incorrectly calculated
\\m=\frac{x_{2}-x_{1}}{y_{2}-y_{1}}\\ Β
(1)
You have now learned how to:
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