This device computes the typical fee of change of a perform over a specified interval. It numerically approximates the slope of the secant line connecting two factors on the perform’s graph. As an example, if analyzing the place of an object over time, this calculation yields the typical velocity between two given time factors. The result’s a single numerical worth representing how a lot the perform’s output modifications, on common, for every unit change in its enter over the interval in query.
This calculation is key to understanding the habits of features and is an important idea in calculus. It serves as a precursor to the spinoff, which represents the instantaneous fee of change. Traditionally, understanding common charges of change was important in fields like physics and engineering, permitting for estimations and predictions about dynamic programs earlier than the appearance of extra subtle mathematical instruments.