If a map shows two points, A and B, with coordinates $(X_A, Y_A)$ and $(X_B, Y_B)$, and you calculate the slope using $ ext{Rise} = (Y_B - Y_A)$ and $ ext{Run} = (X_B - X_A)$, what does this calculation fundamentally represent?

Question

Accepted Answer

The change in elevation relative to the horizontal map projection.. This calculation uses coordinate differences ($ ext{Rise}$ in Y, $ ext{Run}$ in X) to find the gradient. On a topographic map context, this represents the change in elevation relative to the horizontal map projection.