Question

What is the average rate of change of f(x), represented by the table of values, over the interval [-3, 2]?

Answer 1

For this we need to take value of f(x) when x = -3 and value of f(x) when x = 2, sum them up and divide by distance between x = -3 and x = 2

f(-3) = -36

f(2) = 4

average rate of change is:

Avg = (36 + 4)/(3+2) = 8

Note that we have to use +36 and not -36 because we need distance from -36 and 4 and that is 36 + 4 = 40... same goes for -3