A robotics competition has 5 elimination rounds. After each round, only a third of the teams make it to the next round. The table below shows the number of teams in each round of the tournament.
The graph:
1,162
2, 54
3, 18
4, 6
5, 2
Find the average rate of change of f(x) from x =1 to x=5 and describe what it represents.

Question

A robotics competition has 5 elimination rounds. After each round, only a third of the teams make it to the next round. The table below shows the number of teams in each round of the tournament.
The graph:
1,162 
2, 54
3, 18
4, 6
5, 2
Find the average rate of change of f(x) from x =1 to x=5 and describe what it represents.

anonymous · Answer

the avg rate change is slope..so find difference between x co ordinates and y ordinates and divide

anonymous · Answer

Is it -40?

sleepyhead314 · Answer

mmm if @beingnice 's method is correct, then yes  -40

anonymous · Answer

@sleepyhead314  if instantaneous change is asked how would you do?

sleepyhead314 · Answer

instantaneous is like calculus :/
reiman sums

anonymous · Answer

reiman sums?

sleepyhead314 · Answer

whoops... too sleepy, sorrry
tangent, limit, deritivative

sleepyhead314 · Answer

unless its like you find the slope from each piece to piece then find the average of that? >,< @beingnice

jhannybean · Answer

Is the function, f(x) given?

jhannybean · Answer

Or does it have to be found?

anonymous · Answer

ok thanks now go to sleep..lol ;)

anonymous · Answer

@Jhannybean No

sleepyhead314 · Answer

points were given, no f(x)

jhannybean · Answer

Find the average rate of change of f(x) from x =1 to x=5 and describe what it represents. 

You're given $x_1 = 1~ , ~ h ~(\text{dist.}) =4 ~ , ~x_1 +h = 5 $ Then yu just use the formula $$\frac{f(x_1+h) -f(x_1)}{h}$$ and find your average RoC

sleepyhead314 · Answer

*rubs eyes*
sooo
f(5) - f(1)
-----------
     4

sleepyhead314 · Answer

so yes, -40 was right