3.3.3
Properties of Graphs
Estimating Gradient
Estimating Gradient
For a line that isn't straight, we can estimate roughly what the gradient is.


Gradient at a point
Gradient at a point
- To estimate the gradient at a point draw a tangent to the curve at that point.
- Work out the gradient of the tangent.
- Remember that gradient = change in y ÷ change in x.


Gradient = change in y ÷ change in x
Gradient = change in y ÷ change in x
- To estimate the gradient use gradient = change in y ÷ change in x.
- But remember it is only an estimate because the curve isn’t straight.
Estimating Area Under a Graph
Estimating Area Under a Graph


Straight lines only - exact calculation
Straight lines only - exact calculation
- To calculate the area under a graph, split the area into trapeziums and rectangles and work out the area of each section.
- Use the formula:
- Area (Trapezium) = 1⁄2 × base × (a + b)
- Where a and b are the sides of the trapezium.


Curved line - estimate
Curved line - estimate
- If the graph is not made up of straight lines you can estimate the area by splitting the graph approximately into trapeziums and doing the same calculation.


Overestimate or underestimate
Overestimate or underestimate
- An area estimate is an overestimate when the trapeziums are above the curve and an underestimate when the trapeziums are below the curve.
- In the example the first and second sections are underestimates and the third is an overestimate.
Gradient and Area of a Graph With Units
Gradient and Area of a Graph With Units
A real number is a number/value that shows a quantity (or amount) on a line/scale. For a graph showing two real quantities, the gradient and area also show real quantities.


Gradient
Gradient
- For any graph the gradient represents: (y-axis units) per (x-axis units).
- For example:
- litres per second
- £ per kg.


Area
Area
- The area under the graph represents: (y-axis units) × (x-axis units).
- For a velocity-time graph the area under the graph represents distance travelled because km⁄h × h = km.
1Numbers
1.1Integers
1.3Decimals
1.4Powers & Roots
1.5Set Language & Notation
1.6Percentages
1.7Ratio & Proportion
2Equations, Formulae & Identities
2.1Algebraic Manipulation
2.2Expressions & Formulae
2.3Linear Equations
2.4Quadratic Equations
2.5Proportion
3Sequences, Functions & Graphs
3.1Sequences
3.3Graphs
3.4Common Graphs
4Geometry
4.1Angles, Lines & Triangles
4.2Polygons
4.5Circle Properties
4.6Trigonometry & Pythagoras’ theorem
4.7Mensuration of 2D Shapes
4.83D Shapes & Volume
5Vectors & Transformation Geometry
6Statistics & Probability
6.1Statistical Measures
6.2Graphical Representation of Data
Jump to other topics
1Numbers
1.1Integers
1.3Decimals
1.4Powers & Roots
1.5Set Language & Notation
1.6Percentages
1.7Ratio & Proportion
2Equations, Formulae & Identities
2.1Algebraic Manipulation
2.2Expressions & Formulae
2.3Linear Equations
2.4Quadratic Equations
2.5Proportion
3Sequences, Functions & Graphs
3.1Sequences
3.3Graphs
3.4Common Graphs
4Geometry
4.1Angles, Lines & Triangles
4.2Polygons
4.5Circle Properties
4.6Trigonometry & Pythagoras’ theorem
4.7Mensuration of 2D Shapes
4.83D Shapes & Volume
5Vectors & Transformation Geometry
6Statistics & Probability
6.1Statistical Measures
6.2Graphical Representation of Data
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