What is "rate of change"? Hint: it's NOT "y=mx+b." What term (begins with an S!) is it very closely related to?

Standard Form

Rate of change refers to the change in one variable (i. e. independent variable) as a result of a change in another (i. e. dependant variable). A very common example is speed as it refers to the change in distance per a change in time. Graphically representing the relationship between two variables, the rate of change will be the gradient or slope of the graph.