Question

The function y=f(x) is graphed below. What is the average rate of change of the function f(x) on the interval −2≤x≤8

Answer 1

The average rate of change is given by

`A(x)=(f(b)-f(a))/(b-a)`

where

a = -2

b = 8

f(a) = f(-2) = -12

f(b) = f(8) = -16

then

`A(x)=((-16)-(-12))/(8-(-2))`

`A(x)=(-4)/(10)=-(2)/(5)`

then the average rate of change between [-2 , 8] is -2/5 or -0.4