How do I calculate gradient when I end up with and odd number:
I understand the example, which ends up 80m/1600m = 1/20 therefore the answer is 1:20.
However what do I do when I have an answer like 637/2200, which is an odd number, how does this then translate or do I leave the answer like this?
To calculate the gradient, you follow a simple formula:
Gradient = Vertical change / Horizontal change
In your example, you have an odd number when you calculate the gradient as 637/2200. This means the vertical change is 637 units and the horizontal change is 2200 units.
To express the gradient in a simplified form, you can check if both the numerator and denominator have a common factor. In this case, 637 and 2200 do not share any common factors other than 1.
So, if you want to express the gradient in a simplified form, you can leave it as 637/2200. This is perfectly acceptable and does not need to be further simplified.
However, if you wish to express it as a ratio, you can approximate the decimal value of the fraction. In decimal form, 637/2200 is approximately 0.2904545. To express this as a ratio, you can round to the nearest whole number or use the closest fraction.
For example, rounding to the nearest whole number, you could express the gradient as 0:1 (since 0.2904545 is closer to 0 than to 1).
Alternatively, you could approximate the fraction to a simpler form. In this case, you might round to the nearest eighth, so the gradient could be expressed as approximately 4:14 (or simplified further as 2:7) since 637/2200 is approximately 4/14 (which simplifies to 2/7).
Remember, whether you choose to leave it as a decimal, express it as a fraction, or approximate it as a ratio, it's important to communicate the context clearly to ensure the meaning of the gradient is understood.