Curriculum placement
Algebra 1. This describes the skill, not a learner estimate.
Average rate of change
Calculate and interpret interval-average rates from graphs tables and formulas
Problem types
- Average rate of change from a formula
- Average rate of change from a graph or table
- Average rate of change from a table, rounded
- Show the work: average rate of change from a table
Builds on
- Evaluating a function
- Slope of a line
- Reading increase and decrease from a graph · Earlier idea
Reading where a graph increases or decreases becomes measuring how fast, with the average rate over an interval.
- Unit rates with fractions · Earlier idea
Average rate of change is a unit rate: change in output per one unit of input over an interval.
- Finding elapsed time · Earlier idea
Average rate of change divides the change in a quantity by the time elapsed, which generalises distance divided by elapsed time.
Leads to
- Reading slope and intercept in context · See it applied
The slope of a fitted line is the average rate of change of the response per unit of the explanatory variable.
- Comparing functions given in different forms · Extend the idea
Average rate of change gives a common measure for comparing functions given as tables, graphs and formulas.
- Choosing a periodic model · See it applied
The average rate of change of a periodic model over an interval measures how fast it rises or falls on average.
Related skills
- Comparing functions · Shared foundations
- Proofs that use coordinates · Shared foundations
- Composition of functions · Shared foundations
- Regions defined by inequalities · Shared foundations
- Linear models of a situation · Shared foundations
Open the interactive map to explore lessons and skill connections.