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 difference quotient method is used to estimate derivatives numerically by finding average rates of change between two points on a graph using their coordinates and calculating the slope of the secant line connecting them.
Related terms
Secant line: A straight line that intersects a curve at two points.
Average rate of change: The average rate at which one quantity changes with respect to another over a specific interval. It is calculated as the difference in values divided by the difference in input variables.
In calculus, this refers to finding what value a function approaches as its input variable gets arbitrarily close to a certain value. Limits are used extensively when working with derivatives.