Final answer:
To calculate the average rate of change of a person's salary, divide the total increase by the number of years, which in this case is $1,300 per year over a 9-year period.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks for the average rate of change of a person's annual salary over a 9-year period given that it increases by $11,700. The average rate of change can be found by dividing the total change in salary by the total number of years.
So, the calculation is $11,700 ÷ 9 years = $1,300 per year.
This means the average rate of change of the salary is $1,300 per year.
As an example, if you start with a $10 per hour salary and receive a $2 per hour raise, the initial growth rate would be 20%. However, if you get a $2 raise each subsequent year, the growth rate decreases because it's a fixed amount over a larger base salary. Therefore, to maintain a constant growth rate, the raise amount must increase each year.