Answer: - 1/2 = - 0.5
Step-by-step explanation:
1. Make the sequence clear. These are the given points (x,y):
- (-1, 4)
- (1, 3)
- (3, 2)
- (5, 1)
2. The average rate of change only takes into account the last and the first pairs of your intervals, those are (5, 1) and (-1, 4).
Average rate of change = [change in y] / [change in x] = [1 - 4] / [5 - (-1) ] =
= - 3 / 6 = - 1/2 = - 0.5 ← answer
The averate ratre of change is the slope of the line that joins the first and last points. The fact that the result is negative means that there was a net decrease of the values.