Answer: The average rate of change in the number of public library visits from 1998 to 2002 = 0.05 billion per year.
Step-by-step explanation:
Given: Number of visits in 1998 = 1.3 billion
Number of visits in 2002 = 1.5 billion
The average rate of change in the number of public library visits from 1998 to 2002 = [tex]\dfrac{\text{Number of visits in 2002 - Number of visits in 1998}}{2002-1998}[/tex]
[tex]=\dfrac{1.5-1.3}{4}\\\\=\dfrac{0.2}{4}\\\\= 0.05 \text{ billion per year.}[/tex]
Hence, the average rate of change in the number of public library visits from 1998 to 2002 = 0.05 billion per year.
