Before we look at the two types of graphs we use to represent motion, we must make sure we know how to calculate the gradient of a line and the area under it.

Gradient

We calculate the gradient by choosing two points on the line and calculating the change in the y axis (up/down) and the change in the x axis (across).

Area Under Graph

At this level we will not be asked to calculate the area under curves, only straight lines.

We do this be breaking the area into rectangles (base x height) and triangles (½ base x height).