Average Rate Of Change: Definition, Formula, And Real-World Applications

Average Rate of Change

Slope of secant line between two points, use to estimate instantanous rate of change at a point.

The average rate of change is the ratio of the change in a quantity to the time interval over which the change occurred. The formula for average rate of change is given by:

Average rate of change = (final value – initial value) / (final time – initial time)

For example, if the temperature of a room was 20 degrees Celsius at 8:00 am and it increased to 25 degrees Celsius at 9:00 am, then the average rate of change in temperature during that hour would be:

(25°C – 20°C) / (1 hour) = 5°C/hour

This means that the temperature increased at an average rate of 5 degrees Celsius per hour during that time.

The concept of average rate of change is used in various fields such as mathematics, physics, finance, and economics. It helps to measure how a quantity changes over time and provides valuable insights. For instance, in finance, the average rate of change of a stock price can be used to understand the trend of the stock. In physics, the average rate of change of an object’s velocity can be used to determine its acceleration. Therefore, understanding the concept of average rate of change is beneficial in a variety of contexts.

More Answers: