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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