Topic: Average rate of change

Question: Find the average rate of change of the function over the
interval.

f (x) = x 2

on the interval [0,2]

Answer choices:

A 0

1
B
2

C 1

D 2

127
Solution: D

To calculate the average rate of change of a function we’ll need to use the
equation for the average rate of change

Δf f (x2) − f (x1)
=
Δx x2 − x1

with the given function f (x) and the interval [x1, x2]. For our function y = x 2
over the interval [0,2], we can start by calculating f (x1).

f (x1) = (0)2

f (x1) = 0

Then we can calculate f (x2).

f (x2) = (2)2

f (x2) = 4

Now we can use our average rate of change formula.

Δf 4−0
=
Δx 2 − 0

Δf
=2
Δx

The average rate of change for the function y = x 2 over the interval [0,2] is
2.

128
Topic: Average rate of change

Question: Find the average rate of change of the function over the
interval.

2x
f (x) =
3x 2 − 1

on the interval [1,4]

Answer choices:

47
A
13

13
B −
47

47
C −
13

13
D
47

129
Solution: B

To calculate the average rate of change of a function we’ll need to use the
equation for the average rate of change

Δf f (x2) − f (x1)
=
Δx x2 − x1

with the given function f (x) and the interval [x1, x2]. For our function

2x
f (x) = 2
3x − 1

over the interval [1,4], we can start by calculating f (x1).

2(1)
f (x1) =
3(1)2 − 1

f (x1) = 1

Then we can calculate f (x2).

2(4)
f (x2) =
3(4)2 − 1

8
f (x2) =
47

Now we can use our average rate of change formula.

8
Δf 47
−1
=
Δx 4−1

130
 39
Δf − 47
=
Δx 3

Δf 39
=−
Δx 141

Δf 13
=−
Δx 47

2x
The average rate of change for the function f (x) = over the interval
3x − 1
2
13
[1,4] is − .
47

131