Question

How do you find the average rate of change of `f(x) = 17-x^2` over the interval [1, 5]?

Answer 1

Average rate of change is -6

Explanation:

Rate of change at any point is `f^'(x) = -2x`

At `x=1 -> f^1 =-2`

At `x=5->f^'=-10`

Mean rate of change over this interval is:

`(-2-10)/2 = -6`