For two points at (x1,y1) and (x2,y2), respectively, the rate of change is equal to the slope of the shortest possible line segment connecting the two points. This slope can be calculated by the following equation:
m = (y2-y1)/(x2-x1)
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if a function is increasing, the average change of rate between any two points must be positive.
You measure the change in the vertical direction (rise) per unit change in the horizontal direction (run). The rate of change is constant between A and B if AB is a straight line. Take any two points, A = (xa, ya) and B = (xb, yb) then the average rate of change, between A and B = (yb- ya)/(xb- xa).
You divide the difference in y-coordinates by the difference in x-coordinates. Or whatever the variables are.
Find the derivative
Because of the absence of any separators, it is not possible to tell whether the first point is (4, 36) or 43, 6). Consequently it is not possible to give a proper answer. Since these are both pure numbers, there would be no units to the rate of change.