Final answer:
The investment's value increased by an average of $101 per year from 1993 to 1997. This represents the average annual growth rate of the investment over the four-year period.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the average rate of change in the investment's value per year, we need to calculate the difference in the value of the investment over the time period and then divide by the number of years that passed. The investment increased from $3,496 in 1993 to $3,900 in 1997. So, the investment increased by $3,900 - $3,496 = $404 over the course of 1997 - 1993 = 4 years.
The average rate of change per year is calculated as:
$404 ÷ 4 = $101 per year
Therefore, the investment's value increased, on average, by $101 per year from 1993 to 1997. This is the average annual growth rate of that investment over that four-year period.