Question

For the graphed exponential equation, calculate the average rate of change from x = −3 to x = 0.

Answer 1

Answer:

$-\frac{7}{3}$

Step-by-step explanation:

To solve this, we are using the average rate of change formula:

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

where

$m$ is the average rate of change

$a$ is the first point

$b$ is the second point

$f(a)$ is the function evaluated at the first point

$f(b)$ is the function evaluated at the second point

We want to know the average rate of change of the function $f(x)=0.5^x-6$ form x = -3 to x = 0, so our first point is -3 and our second point is 0. In other words, $a=-3$ and $b=0$.

Replacing values

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

$m=\frac{0.5^0-6-(0.5^{-3}-6)}{0-(-3)}$

$m=\frac{1-6-(8-6)}{3}$

$m=\frac{-5-(2)}{3}$

$m=\frac{-5-2}{3}$

$m=\frac{-7}{3}$

$m=-\frac{7}{3}$

We can conclude that the average rate of change of the exponential equation form x = -3 to x = 0 is $-\frac{7}{3}$