Question

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

function f(x) on the interval -8 ≤ x ≤-7?

Answer 1

2

Explanation:

You want to know the average rate of change on the interval -8 ≤ x ≤ -7 of the cubic function shown in the graph.

Average rate of change

The average rate of change of a function f(x) on interval [a, b] is given by ...

rate of change = (f(b) -f(a))/(b -a)

Here, we have ...

• a = -8
• b = -7
• f(-8) = 0
• f(-7) = 2

Using these values in the formula for rate of change, we get ...

rate of change = (2 -0)/(-7 -(-8)) = 2/1 = 2

The average rate of change of f(x) on [-8, -7] is 2.