To find the average rate of change of the function over the interval 10 < x ≤ 40, we need to calculate the difference in the function values and divide it by the difference in x-values.
The change in function values is f(40) - f(10) = 49 - 55 = -6.
The change in x-values is 40 - 10 = 30.
Therefore, the average rate of change is -6/30, which simplifies to -1/5.
The average rate of change of the function over the interval 10 < x ≤ 40 is -1/5.