Question

The function y = f(x) is graphed below. What is the average rate of change of the

function f(x) on the interval -6 ≤ x ≤-3?

Answer 1

- 5

Explanation:

the average rate of change of f(x) in the closed interval [ a, b ] is

`(f(b)-f(a))/(b-a)`

here [ a, b ] = [ - 6, - 3 ] , then

f(b) = f(- 3) = - 15 ← point (- 3, - 15 ) from graph

f(a) = f(- 6) = 0 ← point (- 6, 0 ) from graph

then

average rate of change =
`(-15-0)/(-3-(-6))` =
`(-15)/(-3+6)` =
`(-15)/(3)` = - 5