3678-
Say are given a funtion f(X) = Y = X^2, and two points(values for X) 'A' and 'B'.
You want to know, on average, how much Y, the output of the function, changes with respect to X, the input, between point A and point B.
The formula for this average rate of change is rise over run, or change in Y over change in X. Or using our set up:
f(A) - f(B) divided by B - A
Does this make sense so far?