The average rate of change in the dolphin's position can be calculated by dividing the change in position by the time taken.
The change in position is the difference between the maximum altitude (3.5 meters) and the depth below the surface (-10 meters), which is 3.5 + (-10) = -6.5 meters.
The time taken is 12.5 seconds.
Therefore, the average rate of change in the dolphin's position is -6.5 meters / 12.5 seconds = -0.52 meters/second.
The quotient that describes the average rate of change in the dolphin's position is -0.52 meters/second.