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
h'(x) represents the derivative or rate of change of function h(x) with respect to x. It tells us how fast or slow h(x) is changing at any given point on its graph.
The derivative of a function measures how fast or slow the function is changing at different points. It provides information about slopes, rates of change, and instantaneous velocities.
Rate of change refers to how much a quantity changes over a given interval. In this context, h'(x) represents the rate at which function h(x) is changing with respect to x.
Instantaneous Velocity: Instantaneous velocity is the speed at which an object is moving at any given moment. Similarly, h'(x) represents the instantaneous rate at which function h(x) is changing at a specific point on its graph.