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Figure 12.4. Types of slopes

Figure 12.5. Slope measurement.

The slope of a line is called _________. It may be defined as:
 The change in vertical distance or elevation over a given

horizontal distance, or the change in horizontal distance over a given
vertical distance;
 The vertical angle made by the sloping line and a __________.

There are two groups of methods for determining slopes:
1) You can measure the slope directly, using the necessary
devices. In this case you read the gradient (in degrees or in percent)
from the instrument, without making any further calculations; or

2) You can calculate the slope: measure the ground-level
difference (in metres) between two points along the steepest part of
the slope (called the axis). Calculate the slope, which you will usually

express as a percentage.
Here are several good ways to measure slopes. The method you
use will depend on several factors:

 how accurate a result you need;

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