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Lecture Notes
March 2020
2
Average Rate of Change. The average rate of change of y = f (x) with respect
to x over the interval [x0 , x1 ] is defined as
y1 − y0
rave = (1)
x1 − x0
where y0 and y1 are obtained by putting x0 and x1 in the given function.
That is, y0 = f (x0 ) and y1 = f (x1 ).
Geometrically, average rate of change is the slope of the secant line passing
through the points P (x0 , y0 ) and Q(x1 , y1 ).
y
Q(x1,y1)
Secant Line
P(x0,y0)
Step 2. (Interpretation) This means y increases averagely 8 units per one unit
increase in x over the interval [3, 5].
————————-Solution Ends——————————–
Average and Instantaneous Rates 3
Example 2. Find the average rate of change of y = −x3 + 2 over the interval
[−2, 1], and interpret it.
Solution.
Step 1. (Average Rate)
Here [x0 , x1 ] = [−2, 1]. That is, x0 = −2 and x1 = 1. Now put values of x0
and x1 in y = −x3 + 2 to get y0 and y1 :
y0 = −(x0 )3 + 2 = −(−2)3 + 2 = 10
y1 = −(x1 )3 + 2 = −(1)3 + 2 = 1
Now
y1 − y0 1 − 10 −9
rave = = = = −3
x1 − x0 1 − (−2) 3
Step 2. (Interpretation) Here y decreases averagely 3 units per one unit in-
crease in x over the interval [−2, 1].
————————-Solution Ends——————————–
Example 3. Find the average rate of change of f (x) = 3 − 2x2 over the
interval [−3, 1], and interpret it.
Solution.
Step 1. (Average Rate)
Here [x0 , x1 ] = [−3, 1]. That is, x0 = −3 and x1 = 1. Now put values of x0
and x1 in f (x) = 3 − 2x2 to get f (x0 ) and f (x1 ):
f (x0 ) = 3 − 2(x0 )2 = 3 − 2(−3)2 = 3 − 2(9) = 3 − 18 = −15
f (x1 ) = 3 − 2(x1 )2 = 3 − 2(1)2 = 3 − 2(1) = 1
Now
f (x1 ) − f (x0 ) 1 − (−15) 16
rave = = = = 4.
x1 − x0 1 − (−3) 4
Step 2. (Interpretation) This means y increases averagely 4 units per one unit
increase in x over the interval [−3, 1].
————————-Solution Ends——————————–
y tangent line
P(x0,f(x0)) y=f(x)
0 x0
x
————————-Solution Ends——————————–
1
Example 5. Find the instantaneous rate of change of y = x2 with respect to
x at the point x = −2, and interpret it.
Solution.
Step 1. (Instantaneous Rate) First of all we put the given point x0 = −2 in
the function f (x) = x12 to get f (x0 ) and f (x0 + h):
1 1 1
f (x0 ) = = =
(x0 )2 (−2)2 4
1 1 1
f (x0 + h) = 2
= 2
=
(x0 + h) (−2 + h) 4 − 4h + h2
Average and Instantaneous Rates 5
Now
f (x0 + h) − f (x0 )
rinst = lim
h→0 h
1h i
= lim f (x0 + h) − f (x0 )
h→0 h
1h 1 1i
= lim 2
−
h→0 h 4 − 4h + h 4
1 h 4 − (4 − 4h + h2 ) i
= lim
h→0 h 4(4 − 4h + h2 )
1 4 − 4 + 4h − h2 i
h
= lim
h→0 h 4(4 − 4h + h2 )
1h 4h − h2 i
= lim
h→0 h 4(4 − 4h + h2 )
1 h h(4 − h) i
= lim
h→0 h 4(4 − 4h + h2 )
h 4−h i
= lim
h→0 4(4 − 4h + h2 )
4−0
=
4(4 − 4(0) + (0)2 )
4 1
= =
16 4
————————-Solution Ends——————————–
Practice Problems
1. Find the average rate of change of y = −3x2 + 2 with respect to x over
the interval [1, 5] and interpret it.
√
2. Find the average rate of change of y = x with respect to x over the
interval [1, 4] and interpret the result.
1
5. Find the instantaneous rate of change of y = x2 with respect to x at
the point x = −2 and interpret it.
6 Average and Instantaneous Rates
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(I shall welcome your suggestions to improve these notes.)