Gradients and Graphs

Basically, gradient is another word for "slope". The higher the gradient of a graph at a point, the steeper the line is at that point. A negative gradient means that the line slopes downwards.

Finding the gradient of a straight-line graph

It is often useful or necessary to find out what the gradient of a graph is. For a straight-line graph, pick two points on the graph. The gradient of the line = (change in y-coordinate)/(change in x-coordinate) .

In this graph, the gradient = (change in y-coordinate)/(change in x-coordinate) = (8-6)/(10-6) = 2/4 = ...