Consider the function y=-x^2+4. What is the average rate of change from [1, 5]?

1 Answer
Mar 3, 2017

-6

Explanation:

The average rate of change of a continuous function,
f(x) , on a closed interval [a,b] is given by

bar f(x) =(f(b)-f(a))/(b-a)

So the average rate of change of the function f(x)=-x^2+4 on [1,5] is:

Aroc = ( f(5)-f(1) ) / ( 5-1 )
" " = ( ( -25+4) - (-1+4) ) / 4
" " = ( ( -21) - (3) ) / 4
" " = -24/4
" " = -6