what is a constant urgent help plz!!! (1 Viewer)

[lil lelu]

what is a constant in a gradient question???

 

[Riviet]

A constant is a term that is fixed and independent of any variables, e.g 3 is a constant, 3x is not because 3x can be variable.

 

[mm2006]

A constant gradient is one that stays the same for the entire function - a straight line

 

[PC]

If the equation of a straight line, for example, is y = 2x + 3, then we all know that the gradient is 2 and the y-intercept is 3.

Sometimes that 3 is called a constant term.

As Riviet says, the y part and the 2x part can change, depending on the values of x and y, but the 3 part will always be 3. It's constant.

 

[xlr8-crillz]

All the stuff u said above is true, but what is a "constant gradient".

quote frome mm2006:"constant gradient"

 

[PC]

OK. Think about a parabola, for example, y = x². When you look at the graph going from left to right, you start at the top left part of the graph. You can imaging sliding down the graph into the bowl part. Then you hit the bottom. That part where you slide down means that there is a negative gradient. And, notice that it flattens out a little bit as you get closer to the bottom. At the bottom, unless you make an effort to climb out, you're stuck there. They say that the gradient there is 0. Then on the right side of the parabola, the gradient is postive.

So for that parabola, the gradient always changes.

However, for a straight line, the gradient is always the same. The line is always sloping downwards or always sloping upwards or always horizontal. So for a straight line the gradient doesn't change - it's constant.

Hope this helps.

 

[xlr8-crillz]

OK. Think about a parabola, for example, y = x². When you look at the graph going from left to right, you start at the top left part of the graph. You can imaging sliding down the graph into the bowl part. Then you hit the bottom. That part where you slide down means that there is a negative gradient. And, notice that it flattens out a little bit as you get closer to the bottom. At the bottom, unless you make an effort to climb out, you're stuck there. They say that the gradient there is 0. Then on the right side of the parabola, the gradient is postive.

So for that parabola, the gradient always changes.

However, for a straight line, the gradient is always the same. The line is always sloping downwards or always sloping upwards or always horizontal. So for a straight line the gradient doesn't change - it's constant.

Hope this helps.

wow, thats a real good example and a great way to explain. yeh it helped a lot. i get it now.