Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
The average rate of change calculates how much one variable changes in relation to another variable over an interval. It measures the slope or steepness between two points on a graph.
Instantaneous rate of change refers to how fast something is changing at any given moment or specific point. It is represented by finding the derivative.
Delta Notation (∆): Delta notation (∆) indicates a difference or change in value between two variables. In terms of average rate of change, it represents the change in y divided by the change in x over an interval.
A linear function is a mathematical equation that represents a straight line. It has a constant rate of change, meaning the average rate of change remains the same throughout.