  We present a method that may allow an estimate of the value of the speed of
sound as well as its logarithmic derivative with respect to the baryon number
density in matter created in heavy-ion collisions. To this end, we utilize
well-known observables: cumulants of the baryon number distribution. In
analyses aimed at uncovering the phase diagram of strongly interacting matter,
cumulants gather considerable attention as their qualitative behaviour along
the explored range of collision energies is expected to aid in detecting the
QCD critical point. We show that the cumulants may also reveal the behavior of
the speed of sound in the temperature and baryon chemical potential plane. We
demonstrate the applicability of such estimates within two models of nuclear
matter, and explore what might be understood from known experimental data.
