Question

The table of values below represents a linear function and shows the amount of snow that has fallen since a snowstorm began. What is the rate of change?

Snowfall Amount
Length of Snowfall
(hours)
Amount of Snow on the Ground
(inches)
0
3.3
0.5
4.5
1.0
5.7
1.5
6.9
2.0
8.1
1.2 inches per hour
2.4 inches per hour
3.3 inches per hour
5.7 inches per hour

Answer 1

Rate of change = (change in inches) / (change in hours). For example, (4.5 − 3.3) ÷ (0.5 − 0) = 1.2 ÷ 0.5 = 2.4 inches per hour. So the rate is 2.4 inches per hour.