Acceleration close accelerationThe rate of change in speed (or velocity) is measured in metres per second squared. Acceleration = change of velocity ÷ time taken. is the rate of change of velocity. It ...

Key fact The gradient of speed-time and velocity-time graphs represent acceleration. The area under a speed-time graph represents the distance travelled.

But if you calculate the acceleration without the graph, you are explicitly stating that the y-intercept is zero---which it might not be. So there are some actual reasons for making a graph.