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  "body": "\n## Summary\n\nThe difference quotient of a function between two points is the change of the value divided by the change of the input.\nIt is the slope of the secant line through two points of the graph.\nThe [[derivative|0F1WR9C83K]] is the limit of the difference quotient as the two points merge.\nDifference quotients also appear on their own in the mean value theorem and in numerical approximation of derivatives.\n\n## Explanations\n\n### L1 human\n\nIf you drive $120$ kilometres in $2$ hours, your average speed is $60$ kilometres per hour.\nThat average speed is a difference quotient: change of position over change of time.\nOn a graph, it is the slope of the straight line joining two points of the curve.\nFor $f(x) = x^2$ between $x = 1$ and $x = 3$, the difference quotient is $(9 - 1)/(3 - 1) = 4$.\n",
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