What is a rate of change in math?

In mathematics, a rate of change refers to how a quantity changes in relation to another quantity, often represented as a ratio. It describes the speed at which one variable changes with respect to another, typically expressed as a derivative in calculus. For example, in the context of a function, the rate of change can indicate how steep the graph is at a given point. It is essential in various applications, including physics, economics, and Biology, to analyze trends and make predictions.