<< Chapter < Page Chapter >> Page >

Given the value of a function at different points, calculate the average rate of change of a function for the interval between two values x 1 and x 2 .

  1. Calculate the difference y 2 y 1 = Δ y .
  2. Calculate the difference x 2 x 1 = Δ x .
  3. Find the ratio Δ y Δ x .

Computing an average rate of change

Using the data in [link] , find the average rate of change of the price of gasoline between 2007 and 2009.

In 2007, the price of gasoline was $2.84. In 2009, the cost was $2.41. The average rate of change is

Δ y Δ x = y 2 y 1 x 2 x 1 = $ 2.41 $ 2.84 2009 2007 = $ 0.43 2  years = $ 0.22  per year

Using the data in [link] , find the average rate of change between 2005 and 2010.

$ 2.84 $ 2.31 5  years = $ 0.53 5  years = $ 0.106 per year.

Computing average rate of change from a graph

Given the function g ( t ) shown in [link] , find the average rate of change on the interval [ 1 , 2 ] .

Graph of a parabola.

At t = 1 , [link] shows g ( −1 ) = 4. At t = 2 , the graph shows g ( 2 ) = 1.

Graph of a parabola with a line from points (-1, 4) and (2, 1) to show the changes for g(t) and t.

The horizontal change Δ t = 3 is shown by the red arrow, and the vertical change Δ g ( t ) = 3 is shown by the turquoise arrow. The output changes by –3 while the input changes by 3, giving an average rate of change of

1 4 2 ( 1 ) = 3 3 = −1

Computing average rate of change from a table

After picking up a friend who lives 10 miles away, Anna records her distance from home over time. The values are shown in [link] . Find her average speed over the first 6 hours.

t (hours) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
D ( t ) (miles) 10 55 90 153 214 240 282 300

Here, the average speed is the average rate of change. She traveled 282 miles in 6 hours, for an average speed of

292 10 6 0 = 282 6 = 47

The average speed is 47 miles per hour.

Computing average rate of change for a function expressed as a formula

Compute the average rate of change of f ( x ) = x 2 1 x on the interval [2, 4].

We can start by computing the function values at each endpoint of the interval.

f ( 2 ) = 2 2 1 2 f ( 4 ) = 4 2 1 4 = 4 1 2 = 16 1 4 = 7 2 = 63 4

Now we compute the average rate of change.

Average rate of change = f ( 4 ) f ( 2 ) 4 2                                       = 63 4 7 2 4 2                                      = 49 4 2                                      = 49 8

Find the average rate of change of f ( x ) = x 2 x on the interval [ 1 , 9 ] .

1 2

Finding the average rate of change of a force

The electrostatic force F , measured in newtons, between two charged particles can be related to the distance between the particles d , in centimeters, by the formula F ( d ) = 2 d 2 . Find the average rate of change of force if the distance between the particles is increased from 2 cm to 6 cm.

We are computing the average rate of change of F ( d ) = 2 d 2 on the interval [ 2 , 6 ] .

Average rate of change  = F ( 6 ) F ( 2 ) 6 2 = 2 6 2 2 2 2 6 2 Simplify . = 2 36 2 4 4 = 16 36 4 Combine numerator terms . = 1 9 Simplify

The average rate of change is 1 9 newton per centimeter.

Finding an average rate of change as an expression

Find the average rate of change of g ( t ) = t 2 + 3 t + 1 on the interval [ 0 , a ] . The answer will be an expression involving a .

We use the average rate of change formula.

Average rate of change = g ( a ) g ( 0 ) a 0 Evaluate .                                      = ( a 2 + 3 a + 1 ) ( 0 2 + 3 ( 0 ) + 1 ) a 0 Simplify .                                      = a 2 + 3 a + 1 1 a Simplify and factor .                                      = a ( a + 3 ) a   Divide by the common factor  a .                                      = a + 3

This result tells us the average rate of change in terms of a between t = 0 and any other point t = a . For example, on the interval [ 0 , 5 ] , the average rate of change would be 5 + 3 = 8.

Questions & Answers

differentiate between demand and supply giving examples
Lambiv Reply
differentiated between demand and supply using examples
Lambiv
what is labour ?
Lambiv
how will I do?
Venny Reply
how is the graph works?I don't fully understand
Rezat Reply
information
Eliyee
devaluation
Eliyee
t
WARKISA
hi guys good evening to all
Lambiv
multiple choice question
Aster Reply
appreciation
Eliyee
explain perfect market
Lindiwe Reply
In economics, a perfect market refers to a theoretical construct where all participants have perfect information, goods are homogenous, there are no barriers to entry or exit, and prices are determined solely by supply and demand. It's an idealized model used for analysis,
Ezea
What is ceteris paribus?
Shukri Reply
other things being equal
AI-Robot
When MP₁ becomes negative, TP start to decline. Extuples Suppose that the short-run production function of certain cut-flower firm is given by: Q=4KL-0.6K2 - 0.112 • Where is quantity of cut flower produced, I is labour input and K is fixed capital input (K-5). Determine the average product of lab
Kelo
Extuples Suppose that the short-run production function of certain cut-flower firm is given by: Q=4KL-0.6K2 - 0.112 • Where is quantity of cut flower produced, I is labour input and K is fixed capital input (K-5). Determine the average product of labour (APL) and marginal product of labour (MPL)
Kelo
yes,thank you
Shukri
Can I ask you other question?
Shukri
what is monopoly mean?
Habtamu Reply
What is different between quantity demand and demand?
Shukri Reply
Quantity demanded refers to the specific amount of a good or service that consumers are willing and able to purchase at a give price and within a specific time period. Demand, on the other hand, is a broader concept that encompasses the entire relationship between price and quantity demanded
Ezea
ok
Shukri
how do you save a country economic situation when it's falling apart
Lilia Reply
what is the difference between economic growth and development
Fiker Reply
Economic growth as an increase in the production and consumption of goods and services within an economy.but Economic development as a broader concept that encompasses not only economic growth but also social & human well being.
Shukri
production function means
Jabir
What do you think is more important to focus on when considering inequality ?
Abdisa Reply
any question about economics?
Awais Reply
sir...I just want to ask one question... Define the term contract curve? if you are free please help me to find this answer 🙏
Asui
it is a curve that we get after connecting the pareto optimal combinations of two consumers after their mutually beneficial trade offs
Awais
thank you so much 👍 sir
Asui
In economics, the contract curve refers to the set of points in an Edgeworth box diagram where both parties involved in a trade cannot be made better off without making one of them worse off. It represents the Pareto efficient allocations of goods between two individuals or entities, where neither p
Cornelius
In economics, the contract curve refers to the set of points in an Edgeworth box diagram where both parties involved in a trade cannot be made better off without making one of them worse off. It represents the Pareto efficient allocations of goods between two individuals or entities,
Cornelius
Suppose a consumer consuming two commodities X and Y has The following utility function u=X0.4 Y0.6. If the price of the X and Y are 2 and 3 respectively and income Constraint is birr 50. A,Calculate quantities of x and y which maximize utility. B,Calculate value of Lagrange multiplier. C,Calculate quantities of X and Y consumed with a given price. D,alculate optimum level of output .
Feyisa Reply
Answer
Feyisa
c
Jabir
the market for lemon has 10 potential consumers, each having an individual demand curve p=101-10Qi, where p is price in dollar's per cup and Qi is the number of cups demanded per week by the i th consumer.Find the market demand curve using algebra. Draw an individual demand curve and the market dema
Gsbwnw Reply
suppose the production function is given by ( L, K)=L¼K¾.assuming capital is fixed find APL and MPL. consider the following short run production function:Q=6L²-0.4L³ a) find the value of L that maximizes output b)find the value of L that maximizes marginal product
Abdureman
types of unemployment
Yomi Reply
What is the difference between perfect competition and monopolistic competition?
Mohammed
Got questions? Join the online conversation and get instant answers!
Jobilize.com Reply
Practice Key Terms 9

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store Now




Source:  OpenStax, Essential precalculus, part 1. OpenStax CNX. Aug 26, 2015 Download for free at http://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11871/1.1
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the 'Essential precalculus, part 1' conversation and receive update notifications?

Ask