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
Rates refer to the measurement of how one quantity changes in relation to another quantity. It is a comparison of two different quantities, typically expressed as a ratio or fraction.
Related terms
Unit Rate: A unit rate is a rate that compares a quantity to one unit of another quantity. For example, if you travel 60 miles in 2 hours, the unit rate would be 30 miles per hour.
Instantaneous Rate: An instantaneous rate measures the rate of change at an exact moment or point in time. It focuses on an infinitesimally small interval and provides information about the rate at that specific instant.
A constant rate refers to a situation where the change between two quantities remains consistent over time. It means that for every increase or decrease in one variable, there is an equal increase or decrease in another variable.