0. What quantity does the gradient of the graph represent? Explain briefly.

The gradient of a graph represents the rate of change of the dependent variable with respect to the independent variable. In simpler terms, it indicates how steep the graph is at a particular point. For example, in a linear graph, the gradient (or slope) tells us how much the y-value (dependent variable) changes for a unit change in the x-value (independent variable). A positive gradient indicates that as the x-value increases, the y-value also increases, while a negative gradient indicates that as the x-value increases, the y-value decreases. In the context of a function, the gradient can also be interpreted as the derivative of the function at that point, providing information about the function's behavior, such as increasing or decreasing trends.