Question

Interpret the average rate of change of –14/3 that you found previously. What does this mean in terms of the waterslide, from x = 0 to x = 15?

Answer 1

On average, the slide drops 14 feet for every 3 feet of horizontal distance.
On average, the slide drops about 4.7 feet for every 1 foot of horizontal distance.

Answer 2

Solution: The average rate of change of $\frac{-14}{3}$ represents that the second variable is decrease by 14 if the first variable increase by 3. In terms of water slide the vertical height of slide is decreased at the rate of 4.66 per unit. The vertical height of the slide decrease 70 units from x = 0 to x = 15.

Explanation:

The rate of change shows the change in first variable with respect to change in second variable.

If the rate of chang is given by $\frac{-14}{3}$ it means second variable is decrease by 14 if the first variable increase by 3.

In the context of water slide it shows that the vertical height of slide is decreased by 14 units as we cover the distance of 3 units.

If we cover the distance from x = 0 to x = 15, it means we cover the distance of 15 units.

Let the vertical height of the slide covered from x = 0 to x =15 be y.

It means when distance increased by 15 units the height of slide decreased by y units.

So rate of change = $\frac{-y}{15}$.

It is given that the rate of change is $\frac{-14}{3}$.

Equate both equations.

$\frac{-y}{15}=\frac{-14}{3}$

$y=15(\frac{14}{3} )$

$y=5(14)$

$y=70$

Therefore, the average rate of change of $\frac{-14}{3}$ represents that the second variable is decrease by 14 if the first variable increase by 3. In terms of water slide the vertical height of slide is decreased at the rate of 4.66 per unit. The vertical height of the slide decrease 70 units from x = 0 to x = 15.