Explain how speed is a rate of change?

1 Answer
Rishi A.
Dec 17, 2014

Speed is the rate of change of position.

Example:

Xavier is running a marathon. At time #t=0# hours, he is #0# miles from the start. At time #t=5# hours, he is #26# miles from the start. His average speed throughout the whole race is the distance he traveled over the time it took. So:

Average speed #=26/5#.

His speed is essentially the rate at which his position changes. If his rate is #26/5#, his position changes by #26/5# miles every hour.

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