Final answer:
The rate of change in the company's profit from 2002 to 2007 was $260,000 per year, calculated by dividing the total profit increase of $1.3 million over the 5-year period.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the rate of change in dollars per year of the company's profit, we use the formula:
Rate of Change = (Change in Value) / (Change in Time)
The profit in 2002 was $1.3 million, and the profit in 2007 was $2.6 million. Thus, the change in value is $2.6 million - $1.3 million = $1.3 million. The time period between 2002 and 2007 is 5 years.
Now we can calculate the rate of change:
Rate of Change = $1.3 million / 5 years = $0.26 million per year
This means the company's profit increased by an average of $260,000 per year from 2002 to 2007.