Question

How do I calculate instantaneous rate of change?

Answer 1

If you have an algebraic expression, evaluate the derivative at the given point. If you have a graph, draw a tangent to the graph at that point and calculate the slope of the line.

Answer 2

Thanks for your response! I am given a set of point - concentrations (y) and time (x). They are decimal numbers. How would I go about deciding the correct interval for y? And how do I make the tangent line?

Answer 3

Plot all the points (x,y) on a piece of graph paper. Then draw the tangent line by eye, if you like. A line tangent to a curve at point p just touched the curve at p, and is exactly parallel to the curve at p.

You can also ask certain kinds of software to draw a tangent line for you. What that will usually do is fit a quadratic equation to the three points closest to the point, take the derivative, and evaluate it at the point.

Answer 4

Excellent, thank you so much! :)