A running total shows what has built up. A rate shows how fast it changes. With...

https://www.logo-bookmarks.win/see-how-a-running-total-differs-from-a-rate-of-change-with-parcel-deliveries

A running total shows what has built up. A rate shows how fast it changes. With parcel counts and rainfall, this article explains units and time windows, like parcels per hour or rain in a day, so you can read a chart without mixing the two.