Find Average Rate of Change

**magentarita** · July 17th 2008, 04:42 PM

Find the average rate of change of the function f(x) = (-x^3) + 1:

(a) From 0 to 2

(b) 1 to 3

**Jhevon** · July 17th 2008, 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by magentarita

Find the average rate of change of the function f(x) = (-x^3) + 1:

(a) From 0 to 2

(b) 1 to 3

the average rate of change for a function $f(x)$ between $x = a$ and $x = b$ , for $a < b$ is given by

$\frac {f(b) - f(a)}{b - a}$

**magentarita** · July 18th 2008, 03:28 AM

Are you saying to plug the values given into the function?

Can you further explain your first reply?

Thanks

**nikhil** · July 18th 2008, 04:06 AM

Originally Posted by magentarita

Find the average rate of change of the function f(x) = (-x^3) + 1:

(a) From 0 to 2

(b) 1 to 3

let me do (a)
f(x) = (-x^3) + 1
f(0)=(0)^3+1=1
f(2)=(-2)^3+1=-7
so average rate of change will be
(f(2)-f(0))/2-0
-8/2=-4

**magentarita** · July 18th 2008, 05:29 AM

I totally get it now. Thanks a million! It's easier than the textbook's explanation.

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