The instantaneous rate of change is the limit of the function that describes the average rate of change. It has many practical applications, and can be used to describe how an object travels through the air, in space, or across the ground. The changes in the speed of an airplane, a space shuttle, and a car all may be described using the instantaneous rate of change concept. When describing motion, this concept is also referred to as velocity.

There are many other uses of the instantaneous rate of change concept. Chemists use it to examine chemical reactions. Electrical engineers use this concept to describe the changes that occur in the current of an electric circuit. Economists use this concept to describe the profits and losses of a given business.

In order to understand the instantaneous rate of change concept, it is first...