Gradient Of A Line Exploration
The warm Caribbean Current, derived from the junction of the North Equatorial Current and the Guiana Current, flows at an average rate between 0.2 and 4.2 knots. A fishing boat is out on it's daily run when the engine breaks down. The captain of the boat
Section A: Level 1 -3
Choose any two points on the line and make a triangle, using the segment tool, showing the vertical and horiztonal distances. The slope is the change in the vertical distance divided by the change in the horizontal distance. Using the two points you chose, find the slope of the line. Show your work in the space provided below.
Choose two other point on the line and find the slope. What do you notice? Does that make sense? Explain.
Choose a third set of points on the line and verify your conclusion from your previous response.
While on patrol a Coast Guard ship also received the distress call from fishing boat. They adjusted their course and headed to the location of the drifting fishing boat. By this graph the distance to the fishing boat is decreasing.
Section B: Level 4 - 8
Choose two pairs of points on the line and calculate their gradient. Show your work below in the space provided.
How is the slope of this line different than the slope of the previous one? Does this make sense? Explain.
Based on your work write down a formula to calculate the gradient of a line when you know two points on it. Use variables to represnt the coordinates of the point. Type your formula in the space provied below.
Verify your rule for a pair of points on each graph from this investigation. Show your work in the space provided below.
Justify your formula works in the space below.