If x represents time, the average rate of change of the function f(x) in the first three seconds is ___.

Question

anonymous · Answer

attachment

mathmale · Answer

Trick question!  The rate of change of f(x) is the same everywhere, because it's a linear function.  Can you look at the diagram and determine what the slope of this line is?  That'd be your answer.

anonymous · Answer

the slope would be 50/1 right?
so 50?

anonymous · Answer

actualy -50/1
so -50?

anonymous · Answer

@mathmale  ?

mathmale · Answer

The (constant) rate of change of this function is definitely negative; you can see quickly from the diagram that f(x) decreases as x increases.

I see you've done the math correctly:

mathmale · Answer

$$ave~r~of~c=\frac{ change~of~f(x) }{ change~of ~x }=\frac{ -150 }{ 3 }$$

mathmale · Answer

In this case (but NOT always), the formula for "ave. rate of change" is the same as the slope formula.

anonymous · Answer

so it is -50?

mathmale · Answer

Yes!  Earlier I typed, "I see you've done the math correctly."  Nice work.

anonymous · Answer

thx :)