Final answer:
The rate of change of the function f(x) = 3x^2 - 4x - 5 at the point (1, -1) is D. 2.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rate of change of a function represents how much the function is changing for a given change in the independent variable.
In this case, we're looking for the rate of change of the function f(x) = 3x^2 - 4x - 5 at the point (1, -1).
To find the rate of change, we need to take the derivative of the function and evaluate it at the given point.
The derivative of f(x) = 3x^2 - 4x - 5 is f'(x) = 6x - 4.
Evaluate f'(x) at x = 1 to find the rate of change at that point:
f'(1) = 6(1) - 4 = 2.
Therefore, the rate of change at the point (1, -1) is D. 2.