The gradient of a line is designated by m, abbreviated from modulus. Modulus is an absolute value calculated by adding the squares of each part and taking the positive square root of the sum, and is derived from the Latin modus, meaning measure.
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When the equation is given in the standard form: y = mx + c, the gradient is m. So here, y = 7x + 2 means m, the gradient, is 7.
If necessary, rearrange the linear equation so that it is in the slope-intercept form: y = mx + c Then the gradient of the line is m.
The slope is normally represented by m so it is 0.
The gradient of a function, in a given direction, is the change in the value of the function per unit change in the given direction. It is, thus, the rate of change of the function, with respect to the direction. It is generally found by calculating the derivative of the function along the required direction. For a straight line, it is simply the slope. That is the "Rise" divided by the "Run".
With a line in the form y = mx + c, it has gradient m and the line perpendicular to it has gradient m' such that mm' = -1, ie m' = -1/m. A line through a point (x0, y0) with gradient m' has an equation of: y - y0 = m' (x - x0) which can be rearranged to a form for y = mx + c. Thus for the line 2x - 3y = 7: 2x - 3y = 7 → 3y = 2x + 7 → y = 2/3 x + 7/3 → it has gradient 2/3 → perpendicular line has gradient -3/2 → perpendicular line through (4, 9) perpendicular to 2x - 3y = 7 has equation: y - 9 = (-3/2)(x - 4) → 2y - 18 = -3(x - 4) → 2y - 18 = -3x + 12 → 2y = 30 - 3x → 3x + 2y = 30