Difference between Slope and Gradient It has been a few years since studying contour maps. 

Often I hear slope and gradient interchangeably in describing steepness.

Does anyone know any good definitions and analogies of slope and gradient.

Thanks,

Amanda
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A gradient is a vector, and slope is a scalar. Gradients really become meaningful in multivarible functions, where the gradient is a vector of partial derivatives. With single variable functions, the gradient is a one dimensional vector with the slope as its single coordinate (so, not very different to the slope at all).

Source(s):
Currently studying multivariable calculus
As gradient is a vector and the gradient of a scaler is a vector ie it drives a scaler in a direction; slope is a scaler ( scaler can be positive and negative) yet it drives a line ( y= mx+ c ) with unique steepness in upward or downward in a direction ( deviation depends upon change in perpendicular per unit base ie tan(theta) which is proportional to theta and up and down  direction by + and - signs) unlike a vector which has finite length (magnitude)