Question

The graph below plots a function f(x):

If x represents time, the average rate of change of the function f(x) in the first three seconds is ___.

Answer 1

I think the slope would be 3/2. I'm not entirely sure

Answer 2

If x represents time, the average rate of change of the function f(x) in the first three seconds is 40.

Explanation:

We know that the average rate of change which is also know as a slope of a function from x=a to x=b is calculated by the formula:

`Rate\ of\ change=(f(b)-f(a))/(b-a)`

Here we are asked to find the average rate of change between x=0 to x=3 ( i.e. in the first three seconds)

It is calculated as follows:

`Rate\ of\ change=(f(3)-f(0))/(3-0)\\\\\\Rate\ of\ change=(220-100)/(3)\\\\\\Rate\ of\ change=(120)/(3)\\\\\\Rate\ of\ change=40`