Question

A stream begins at an elevation of 200 meters and flows a distance of 400 kilometers to the ocean? what is the average gradient?

Answer 1

Change in y = -200 meters
change in x = 400,000 meters

slope  = change in y / change in x = -200/400,000 = -1/2,000 meters

Answer 2

Answer:

The average gradient is $0.5 \frac{m}{Km}$

Step-by-step explanation:

We have two important data to solve this problem:

1- Stream begins at an elevation (y) of 200 m

2- Stream flows a distance of (x) 400 km.

We need to calculate the average gradient. Gradient definition is the drop in elevation of a stream divided by the distance the water travel.

So, gradient (g) will be elevation (y) divided by distance (x).

$g = \frac{y}{x}=\frac{200m}{400Km} =\frac{2m}{4Km}$

$g = 0.5 \frac{m}{Km}$

Finally, the average gradient is $0.5 \frac{m}{Km}$.