Given a function, describe how to find the average rate of change over a given interval.

Find the average rate of change of the function

A General Note: Rate of Change

The units on a rate of change are "output units per input units." The average rate of change between two input values is the total change of the function values (output values) divided by the change in the input values.

To find the average rate of change, we divide the change in the output value by the change in the input value. The Greek letter Δ (delta) signifies the change in a quantity; we read the ratio as "delta-y over delta-x" or "the change in y divided by the change in x".