Measurement of steepness: Grasping the slippery slope

The measurement of steepness draws content from both the number and algebra strand, and the measurement and geometry strand of The Australian Curriculum: Mathematics. When students are asked to use their own methods to measure the steepness of the ground, the task also incorporates understanding, reasoning, fluency, and problem solving. Activities involving the measurement of steepness provide valuable opportunities for students in middle school mathematics classes to learn about slope as a ratio. This concept is important for both further studies in algebra and understanding measurements used in the building and transport industries.