Answer: The average rate of change of a function over an interval is given by the slope of the secant line connecting the endpoints of the interval. To find this, we need to find the difference in y values (the rise) divided by the difference in x values (the run) between the two points (1,1/1) and (3,1/3).
The rise is 1/3 - 1/1 = 1/3 - 1 = -2/3
The run is 3 - 1 = 2
So the average rate of change over the interval [1,3] is -2/3 ÷ 2 = -1/3.
Explanation: