ArtsAutosBooksBusinessEducationEntertainmentFamilyFashionFoodGamesGenderHealthHolidaysHomeHubPagesPersonal FinancePetsPoliticsReligionSportsTechnologyTravel

How to Find the Percentage of a Grade

Updated on August 23, 2012
Source

Calculation of the grade of a slope in a percentage form is needed in many engineering and drainage applications. For example, warning signs are used in hilly areas where downward grades exceed 4 percent for an extended distance. The warning signs tell motorists and truck drivers to slow down or use a low gear to control speed. The grade of slope is also needed when perfroming grading work or when laying pipe for drainage. Minimum slope grades of 0.5% to 1.0% are needed to promote positive drainage. Finding the percentage of grade is actually an easy calculation.

Calculating Percent Grade from Coordinates

Using coordinates is often preferred by surveyors and those who lay out construction grading for a project. Coordinates are typically provided in a state plane system using northing and easting values with an elevation value. To show an example of calculating percent grade from coordinates, simple x,y, and z values are used here:

Point 1: 200, 50, 87

Point 2: 295, 75, 90

  • First the horizontal distance between the two points is determined using the x and y values of the coordinates.

The following formula is used, based on the point coordinates given.

SQRT((295-200)2+(75-50)2)= 98.23

  • Next, determine the elevation difference from the coordinates. It is the difference in the z values so 90-87= 3
  • The grade is calculated by dividing the elevation difference by the horizontal distance.

grade = 3/98.23 = .0305

  • To get the grade in percent form multiply the grade by 100.

.0305 x 100 = 3.05 percent grade

Determining Percent Grade Slope wth a Level

A level is a valuable tool in determining percent grade of a slope. Here is the way it works.

  • Place either a standard level or a sting line level on a slope.
  • Get the level exactly horizontal (level)
  • Measure the distance from each end of the bottom of the level to the ground
  • Measure the length of the level
  • The percent grade is the difference in distance from the bottom of each end of the level divided by the length of the level multiplied by 100..

A string line level is used to measure a percent slope grade over a longer distance. Smart Levels are also available which have a digital display which shows the percent slope grade when the smart level is placed on the ground. This provides a direct reading with no calculation of grade required.

working

This website uses cookies

As a user in the EEA, your approval is needed on a few things. To provide a better website experience, hubpages.com uses cookies (and other similar technologies) and may collect, process, and share personal data. Please choose which areas of our service you consent to our doing so.

For more information on managing or withdrawing consents and how we handle data, visit our Privacy Policy at: https://corp.maven.io/privacy-policy

Show Details
Necessary
HubPages Device IDThis is used to identify particular browsers or devices when the access the service, and is used for security reasons.
LoginThis is necessary to sign in to the HubPages Service.
Google RecaptchaThis is used to prevent bots and spam. (Privacy Policy)
AkismetThis is used to detect comment spam. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide data on traffic to our website, all personally identifyable data is anonymized. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Traffic PixelThis is used to collect data on traffic to articles and other pages on our site. Unless you are signed in to a HubPages account, all personally identifiable information is anonymized.
Amazon Web ServicesThis is a cloud services platform that we used to host our service. (Privacy Policy)
CloudflareThis is a cloud CDN service that we use to efficiently deliver files required for our service to operate such as javascript, cascading style sheets, images, and videos. (Privacy Policy)
Google Hosted LibrariesJavascript software libraries such as jQuery are loaded at endpoints on the googleapis.com or gstatic.com domains, for performance and efficiency reasons. (Privacy Policy)
Features
Google Custom SearchThis is feature allows you to search the site. (Privacy Policy)
Google MapsSome articles have Google Maps embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
Google ChartsThis is used to display charts and graphs on articles and the author center. (Privacy Policy)
Google AdSense Host APIThis service allows you to sign up for or associate a Google AdSense account with HubPages, so that you can earn money from ads on your articles. No data is shared unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Google YouTubeSome articles have YouTube videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
VimeoSome articles have Vimeo videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
PaypalThis is used for a registered author who enrolls in the HubPages Earnings program and requests to be paid via PayPal. No data is shared with Paypal unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook LoginYou can use this to streamline signing up for, or signing in to your Hubpages account. No data is shared with Facebook unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
MavenThis supports the Maven widget and search functionality. (Privacy Policy)
Marketing
Google AdSenseThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Google DoubleClickGoogle provides ad serving technology and runs an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Index ExchangeThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
SovrnThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook AdsThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Unified Ad MarketplaceThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
AppNexusThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
OpenxThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Rubicon ProjectThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
TripleLiftThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Say MediaWe partner with Say Media to deliver ad campaigns on our sites. (Privacy Policy)
Remarketing PixelsWe may use remarketing pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to advertise the HubPages Service to people that have visited our sites.
Conversion Tracking PixelsWe may use conversion tracking pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to identify when an advertisement has successfully resulted in the desired action, such as signing up for the HubPages Service or publishing an article on the HubPages Service.
Statistics
Author Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide traffic data and reports to the authors of articles on the HubPages Service. (Privacy Policy)
ComscoreComScore is a media measurement and analytics company providing marketing data and analytics to enterprises, media and advertising agencies, and publishers. Non-consent will result in ComScore only processing obfuscated personal data. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Tracking PixelSome articles display amazon products as part of the Amazon Affiliate program, this pixel provides traffic statistics for those products (Privacy Policy)
ClickscoThis is a data management platform studying reader behavior (Privacy Policy)